Court to deliver judgment November 20 in Nnamdi Kanu’s terrorism case

By Kunle Sanni –

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 20 for judgment in the terrorism case filed by the Federal Government against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

According to a report by The PUNCH on Friday, Justice James Omotosho announced the date after Kanu failed to open his defence, despite being given six days by the court to do so.

The judge held that since the IPOB leader did not take advantage of the opportunity to present his case, he could not later claim to have been denied his constitutional right to a fair hearing.

During Friday’s proceedings, Kanu, who is representing himself, argued that the terrorism charges against him were invalid. He claimed that the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act under which he is being tried had been repealed, and therefore, terrorism was no longer an offence under Nigerian law.

Kanu urged the court to dismiss the case and order his release, maintaining that there was no longer any legal basis for the charges.

The Federal Government, however, opposed his motion, insisting that the charges remain valid and that Kanu must face trial for his alleged role in acts of terrorism and incitement linked to the separatist activities of IPOB.

Nnamdi Kanu, the self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, is facing multiple charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement. He was first arrested in 2015 and granted bail in 2017 but later fled the country, claiming his life was in danger.

In June 2021, he was rearrested and repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya under controversial circumstances. Since then, Kanu has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), with several court rulings and appeals challenging both his detention and the legality of his trial.