The Federal High Court in Abuja, today (Tuesday, November 4, 2025) warned that it would close the defence of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, if he fails to open his case within the next sitting.
Kanu, who has chosen to represent himself after dismissing his legal team, again refused to begin his defence in the seven-count terrorism charge filed against him by the Federal Government. It marked the fourth consecutive time he declined to enter his defence.
At the resumed hearing, Kanu maintained that he has no case to answer, arguing that the charges against him are not backed by any extant Nigerian law. He urged the court to take judicial notice of his pending motion challenging the court’s jurisdiction and seeking his immediate release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), where he has been held since 2021.
“Without a valid charge, there is no legal basis for me to defend anything,” Kanu told the court, insisting that he would not file a final written address because the prosecution’s case, in his view, does not exist in law.
However, prosecuting counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, questioned the competence of the documents Kanu filed, insisting they were not properly submitted. He accused the IPOB leader of attempting to stall proceedings and urged the court to deem his filings as a final address so judgment could be delivered.
In a brief ruling, Justice James Omotosho dismissed the objection and held that the court would consider Kanu’s filings. The judge acknowledged Kanu’s status as a non-lawyer and allowed him additional time to seek proper legal guidance.
Justice Omotosho cautioned that the court would not continue to indulge unnecessary delays, stressing that Kanu risks losing his right to present a defence if he fails to do so at the next sitting.
The matter was adjourned till Wednesday for continuation of trial, with the judge making clear that the defence will be deemed closed if Kanu again refuses to open his case.
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