UPDATED: Court fixes Nov 20 for judgment in terrorism charges against Nnamdi Kanu

Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has slated November 20, 2025, to deliver judgment in the terrorism charges preferred against the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu by the federal government.

Kanu, who had earlier filed a motion on Friday, challenged his trial on the ground that terrorism was no longer an offense in Nigeria. 

He claimed that the earlier Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act had been repealed and as such no valid charges against him. 

Justice Omotosho, while ruling after Kanu failed to open his defence, having exhausted the six days allocated to him by the court to conduct his defence, said the IPOB leader, having failed to utilise the opportunity granted him to conduct his defence, he cannot claim to have been denied the constitutionally guaranteed rights to fair hearing.

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Justice Omotosho had earlier given the embattled IPOB leader November 5 to defend the alleged terrorism charges against him or waive his right to do so.

After Kanu failed on the fourth day to enter his defence after the prosecution closed its case and the court overruled his no-case submission, Justice Omotosho said should Kanu fail to open his defence on November 5, he would be deemed to have waived his right to do so.

At the day’s proceedings, Kanu, who is conducting his case by himself, said he has not filed any final written address as ordered by the court, but filed a motion and a supporting affidavit.

He said he would not enter any defence because he was convinced that there is no valid charge known to any extant law that is pending against him.

The IPOB leader threatened not to return to detention and demanded that he should be set free and allowed to go home immediately because, according to him, there is no valid charge in respect of which he should be further subjected to trial.

Responding, prosecuting lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), faulted the competence of the fresh court documents filed by Kanu, arguing that they were not properly filed.

Awomolo urged the court to desist from further indulging the defendant, who he claimed was only interested in wasting the precious judicial time of the court.

The senior lawyer urged the court to deem the documents recently filed by Kanu as his final written address, order parties to adopt the final addresses and adjourn for judgment.

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho said the documents recently filed by Kanu were in order and would be considered at the time of judgment.

The judge said having taken judicial notice that the defendant is not a lawyer, he should be given the opportunity to consult a lawyer and get necessary support.

The IPOB leader had been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021 that he was ‘unlawfully’ renditioned from Kenya and arraigned for terrorism charges by the federal government.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE