You Have Final Opportunity to Open Defence in Terrorism Trial, Court Tells Nnamdi Kanu
A Federal High Court in Abuja has given Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu a final window to begin his defence in the long-running terrorism case against him, warning that failure to do so would amount to forfeiting his right to contest the charges.
The matter was pushed forward after a tense hearing in which the judge set a fresh date for Kanu to either put his case to the court or be treated as having waived that opportunity.
Justice James Omotosho told the courtroom he would allow one more chance for the detained activist to present evidence and call witnesses, but made clear the court would not extend the deadline further. The adjournment was fixed to early November, when Kanu must either open his defence or face the court’s closure of his case.
The prosecution had urged the judge to foreclose Kanu’s defence after the defendant spent most of the time allotted to him without formally starting his case.
Counsel for the federal government argued that the time previously granted should not be stretched, and complained about recent public comments by members of Kanu’s former legal team which, the prosecution said, risked prejudicing the trial.
Kanu has dismissed his lawyers and indicated he will act for himself, a move that has drawn commentary from legal analysts who warn of the risks of self-representation in a high-stakes criminal trial.
The defendant has consistently rejected the legitimacy of the charges, which stem from his separatist campaign for an independent Biafra and include counts of terrorism and related offences; he denies the allegations.
Supporters and opponents of Kanu have followed the proceedings closely, with the case continuing to stir political tensions in the country’s southeast. Observers say how the court manages the timetable and evidence will be closely watched because of the trial’s wider security and political implications.
The court will reconvene on the date specified by Justice Omotosho, at which point the defence phase must commence or be deemed abandoned. The outcome of that hearing could determine whether the accused will be permitted to call the witnesses he has previously listed — which reportedly include individuals both inside and outside Nigeria.
