News
Court Gives Nnamdi Kanu Final Chance to Defend Himself
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday told detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu that he would be given one last chance to open his defence in the seven-count terrorism trial but warned that failure to do so at the next hearing would lead to foreclosure of his right to defend.
Trial judge Justice James Omotosho adjourned the case until November 7, 2025, for Kanu to open his defence as previously ordered, saying the court was bound to give the defendant another opportunity before deeming his defence closed.
“We had adjourned till today for the defendant to put in his defence or be deemed closed. But, I am bound to give him another opportunity to put in his defence.
If he does not, I will deem him closed. I know that he is an Economist and not a lawyer.
I will give the last opportunity to the defendant to put in his defence, failure of which he would be deemed closed,” Justice Omotosho held.
Kanu, who is conducting his case himself after disengaging his legal team, told the court he had no case to answer and reaffirmed his view that the charge against him is invalid because it was predicated on what he called a “repealed and non-existent law.”
He insisted the Supreme Court had directed that the charge be amended and argued that the Federal Government’s failure to amend the charge was fatal to the prosecution.
“Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act has been repealed. I cannot put in defense under a repealed law. I won’t do that,” Kanu said.
The Federal Government’s counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, urged the court to foreclose Kanu’s defence, saying the defendant had already wasted five of the six days allocated for his defence and that his conduct showed an unwillingness to comply with the court’s order.
Earlier in the proceedings, Kanu had initially sought a 90-day adjournment to call a list of proposed witnesses he described as vital to his defence. The list included serving governors, ministers, and senior security officials, among them Governor Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Minister Nyesom Wike (FCT), former AGF Abubakar Malami, and former Army Chief Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd).
Kanu’s 90-day request was framed as necessary to secure attendance and testimony from those witnesses. He had also earlier indicated his intention to call 23 witnesses to support his defence. However, after the court previously ordered him to open his defence, Kanu later shelved the plan and declined to proceed, prompting the prosecution’s call to close his defence.
Following Justice Omotosho’s decision to grant one final adjournment, Kanu asked to consult four former lawyers who earlier represented him, Nnaemeka Ejiofor, Aloy Ejimakor, Maxwell Okpara, and Mandela Umegborogu naming them as consultants. The judge allowed the consultations but cautioned the lawyers against discussing court proceedings in the media after the prosecution complained some former counsel had made prejudicial media statements.
It will be recalled that Kanu has been in detention since 2021. When ordered on October 24 to open his defence, he initially named several high-profile figures as prospective witnesses but later reversed course, a development that shaped Wednesday’s tense exchange in court.
