The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled November 20 for judgment in the terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Justice James Omotosho, who presides over the case, fixed the date on Friday after Kanu once again failed to open his defence, despite being given multiple opportunities to do so.
Kanu had previously refused to begin his defence. On October 24, the court adjourned proceedings to October 27 to allow him to start, but the defendant later disengaged his legal team and opted to represent himself, maintaining that there was no valid case against him.
On November 4, Justice Omotosho granted Kanu one final chance to open his defence or risk forfeiting his right to do so.
Despite the judge’s repeated advice for him to obtain legal representation and present his case, Kanu insisted that the charges were baseless and that his continued detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) was unlawful.
He also accused the court of disobeying a Supreme Court ruling that criticised his extraordinary rendition from Kenya, demanding his immediate release.
When reminded that the same Supreme Court had ordered his trial to resume at the Federal High Court, Kanu argued that the terrorism charges were unconstitutional. Citing Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, he maintained that no written law in Nigeria defines terrorism as a crime.
During Friday’s sitting, Kanu informed the court that he had an important process to file but claimed he was being prevented from doing so.
In response, Justice Omotosho directed that the court’s registry be temporarily moved into the courtroom to allow Kanu to complete the filing. Proceedings were stood down for an hour to enable the process.
When the court reconvened, Adegboyega Awomolo, counsel to the Federal Government, stated that he would not respond to Kanu’s new motion but would rely on the exhibits attached to it.
In the motion, Kanu requested that his “not guilty” plea be expunged from the court’s records, arguing that he was deceptively arraigned in violation of Section 36 of the Constitution.
He also prayed the court to nullify all proceedings to date, claiming the trial was built on a defective legal foundation, and asked for his immediate release.
Justice Omotosho acknowledged Kanu’s latest motion, as well as another one filed on October 30, noting that all rulings on motions and objections would be delivered alongside the final judgment.
Even after renewed appeals from the judge for Kanu to present his defence, the IPOB leader stood firm, maintaining that no legitimate charges existed against him.
Consequently, Justice Omotosho ruled that having failed to take advantage of the opportunities to defend himself, Kanu could not claim a denial of fair hearing — and then fixed November 20 for judgment.
