The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to October 27.
Kanu requested the adjournment to allow him to prepare his defense, citing that he had not received the case file. The court granted the request and directed the Department of State Services (DSS) to provide Kanu with access to his legal team over the weekend.
Kanu had earlier dismissed his legal team led by Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and opted to defend himself. However, he later requested the court to allow him to have access to his case file, which he claimed was necessary for his defense. The DSS was directed to allow Kanu’s legal team to have access to him over the weekend to enable him prepare for his defense.
The federal government had accused Kanu of inciting violence and pushing for the secession of the South-East region through IPOB’s activities. Kanu’s trial has been ongoing for several years, with the government accusing him of various crimes, including treason and terrorism.
Kanu plans to call 23 witnesses, including high-profile figures such as former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma, former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other prominent individuals. The court has directed the DSS to provide a conducive environment for Kanu to meet with his lawyers and prepare his defense.
The judge, Justice James Omotosho, advised Kanu to make full use of the fair-hearing opportunity, stressing that other pending cases had been delayed due to the attention given to his trial.
He further stated that he would no longer vacate the courtroom for pre-trial conferences between Kanu and his lawyers, as such opportunities had not been effectively utilized. Instead, the court ruled that future meetings should be held within the DSS facility.
Kanu was first arrested in 2015 but fled Nigeria after being granted bail in 2017. He was re-arrested in 2021 and has since remained in DSS custody. The case has sparked significant interest and debate, with many calling for Kanu’s release and others supporting the government’s efforts to bring him to justice.
