The Federal High Court in Abuja has given Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), until November 5 to open his defence in the terrorism case filed against him or risk forfeiting the right to do so.
Justice James Omotosho, who issued the directive on Tuesday, said Kanu had repeatedly failed to open his defence despite several opportunities since the prosecution closed its case. The judge warned that the court would no longer tolerate further delay tactics.
The development marks the fourth time Kanu has failed to enter his defence after the court dismissed his no-case submission, which sought to terminate the proceedings on the grounds that the charges lacked merit.
The judge noted that the court had earlier adjourned the matter on October 27 for Kanu to either file his final written address or commence his defence. However, at Tuesday’s proceedings, the IPOB leader told the court that he had not filed the required address but had instead submitted a motion and a supporting affidavit.
Kanu, who has been conducting his case personally after his lawyers withdrew from the trial, insisted that he would not open any defence, claiming that there was no valid charge against him under any known law of Nigeria.
He maintained that his continued detention was illegal and demanded his immediate release, declaring that he would not return to custody after the hearing. “There is no valid charge before this court,” Kanu said, urging the judge to terminate the proceedings.
In response, prosecution counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) dismissed Kanu’s latest filings as incompetent, arguing that they were not properly presented in line with court procedures. He urged Justice Omotosho not to indulge the defendant further, accusing Kanu of deliberately seeking to waste judicial time.
Awomolo also asked the court to treat Kanu’s newly filed motion as his final written address, adopt all final submissions, and proceed to fix a date for judgment.
Justice Omotosho, however, disagreed, stating that the defendant’s documents were properly before the court and would be evaluated at the stage of final judgment. He noted that since Kanu was not a trained lawyer, the court would give him one final opportunity to obtain legal counsel and prepare his defence.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until November 5, stressing that if Kanu failed to enter his defence on that date, he would be deemed to have waived his right to do so.
Kanu has been facing terrorism-related charges since his re-arrest and extradition to Nigeria in 2021. His trial, marked by prolonged delays and legal disputes, has drawn both local and international attention over allegations of human rights violations and fair trial concerns.
