Court Fixes November 20 for Judgment in Nnamdi Kanu Terrorism Trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled November 20 for its judgment in the terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Justice James Omotosho set the date on Friday after noting that Kanu did not open his defence within the six days provided by the court. The judge ruled that by failing to take advantage of the opportunity granted to him, Kanu could not later argue that his right to a fair hearing was violated.

During the proceedings, Kanu’s legal team filed a fresh application seeking to halt the trial altogether. They argued that the terrorism charges could no longer stand because the law under which he was being prosecuted — the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act — had allegedly been repealed. On this basis, they asked the court to strike out the case and order his release.

Kanu insisted that there was no valid legal basis for the allegations against him and urged the court to dismiss the suit and grant him freedom.