Court Grants Nnamdi Kanu Fresh Opportunity to Open Defence

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has, for the fourth time, granted the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, another opportunity to open his defence in the terrorism case filed against him by the Federal Government.

Justice James Omotosho gave the ruling on Wednesday, adjourning the case till November 7, after Kanu again insisted that the charges against him were invalid and could not be defended.

Kanu is facing a seven-count terrorism charge, with the prosecution having closed its case on June 19, 2025, after calling five witnesses. Following that, the court ordered Kanu to open his defence, but he repeatedly maintained that he had no case to answer.

However, on September 26, 2025, the court rejected his no-case submission, holding that a prima facie case had been established against him and ordering him to enter his defence.

In late October, for the second time, Kanu failed to open his defence, claiming that his former lawyers had yet to hand over key documents to him.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, when called upon to begin his defence, Kanu again challenged the validity of the charges, arguing that they were filed under a repealed Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act.

“The Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act has been repealed. I cannot put up a defence under a repealed law. I won’t do that,” Kanu told the court, insisting that the Supreme Court had directed the Federal Government to amend the charges before his trial could proceed.

Justice Omotosho advised Kanu to “keep his gunpowder dry” and focus on the defence, but Kanu maintained that he would not proceed unless the alleged defect in the charge was addressed.

He, however, indicated readiness to consult with his four legal consultants — Nnaemeka Ejiofor, Aloy Ejimakor, Maxwell Okpara, and Mandela Umegborogu —