Court Gives Nnamdi Kanu October 27 Deadline to Open Defence in Terrorism Case

Nnamdi Kanu was given until October 27 to begin his defence in the ongoing terrorism trial after his request for an adjournment was granted.
The IPOB leader told the court he disengaged his legal team and needed access to his case file to prepare his defence.
Justice James Omotosho warned against unnecessary delays, stressing that other cases have been affected.
The court also granted Kanu’s request for the DSS to allow access to his foreign witnesses.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has given the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, till Monday, October 27, to open his defence in the terrorism charges filed against him by the Federal Government.

The decision came after Kanu complained that his former legal team, led by ex-Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi (SAN), had not yet released his case file to him for review.

When the matter was called, prosecution counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) appeared for the Federal Government and informed the court that the day’s proceedings were meant for Kanu to begin his defence as earlier scheduled. However, no lawyer represented Kanu.

Kanu, who personally entered the dock carrying a bundle of documents, told the court he had disengaged his legal team on October 23 and had not received his case file from them. He therefore requested an adjournment to enable him to study the materials in preparation for his defence.

He also informed the court of his plan to call 23 witnesses, including some from outside Nigeria. He pleaded with the judge to direct the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow his foreign witnesses access to him and to grant his lawyers permission to visit him on non-working days, a request Justice Omotosho approved.

Responding, Awomolo described Kanu’s claim as “strange,” pointing out that the defendant had spent hours in court previously with his former lawyers. He reminded the court that Kanu had already been allotted six days to open and close his defence and urged the judge to maintain that timeline.

Justice Omotosho, while expressing disbelief over the allegation that Agabi’s team withheld the file, nonetheless granted Kanu’s request for a short adjournment. He warned against deliberate delays, noting that the lengthy proceedings had already caused setbacks for other pending cases.

The matter was adjourned till Monday, October 27, for Kanu to formally open his defence.

Meanwhile, in his latest notice of objection, Nnamdi Kanu asked the court for several declarations, including that his continued prosecution under the repealed Terrorism (Prevention) Amendment Act 2013 was unconstitutional and violated his rights to fair hearing under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter.

He further requested that the Federal High Court strike out parts of the amended charges against him, alleging double jeopardy, and sought a ruling declaring his extraordinary rendition from Kenya unlawful. Kanu also prayed the court to nullify all proceedings conducted in breach of his right to confidential communication with his counsel and adequate facilities for his defence.