By Joe Udo
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed 20th November 2025 for judgment in the terrorism trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice James Omotosho announced the date on Friday following the expiration of the six-day window granted to Kanu to open his defence in the case instituted by the Federal Government.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Omotosho held that Kanu had failed to utilise the opportunity provided by the court to defend himself and therefore could not claim to have been denied a fair hearing as guaranteed by the Constitution.
“Since the defendant failed to utilise the opportunity granted to him to conduct his defence, he cannot claim denial of fair hearing,” the judge stated.
Kanu, who is facing a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism, however, filed a fresh motion on Friday challenging the validity of his trial. He argued that terrorism was no longer an offence in Nigeria, claiming that the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, under which he was being prosecuted, had been repealed.
He urged the court to dismiss the charges against him and order his release, insisting there was no valid law supporting his prosecution.
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Kanu also asked the court to expunge from its record the plea of “not guilty” earlier entered on his behalf, which he described as “deceptive” and “contrary to the Supreme Court’s ruling.” He sought to have all subsequent proceedings nullified, alleging they were based on a repealed statute.
In response, the prosecution counsel, Adegoboyega Awomolo (SAN), said there was no need to file a counter-affidavit to Kanu’s motion, noting that the prosecution was relying on the court’s existing records. Awomolo maintained that Kanu had consistently refused to enter his defence despite being given ample time to do so.
“The defendant is simply refusing to defend himself. The trial has followed due process and is being conducted within the ambit of the law,” Awomolo told the court, urging the judge to adjourn for judgment.
Justice Omotosho, in his remarks, recalled that the case, which was filed in 2015, had suffered several delays before being re-assigned to his court for accelerated hearing. He noted that the prosecution had already called five witnesses and tendered several exhibits before closing its case on 19th June 2025.
The judge observed that multiple adjournments had been granted at Kanu’s request to cross-examine witnesses, adding that a no-case submission earlier filed by the defendant had been dismissed.
Omotosho stated that the court had “bent over backwards” to ensure fairness and even personally appealed to Kanu “in God’s name” to open his defence and engage legal representation.
However, he said Kanu abandoned the process and began insisting there was no existing law under which he was being tried.
Citing Supreme Court authorities, Justice Omotosho ruled that a defendant who fails to use the opportunity of a fair hearing effectively waives that right.
“The court cannot compel the defendant to enter his defence,” he declared.
The judge subsequently fixed November 20, 2025, for the delivery of judgment in the long-running case.
