Garba Mohammed
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 20 for judgment in the terrorism case against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice James Omotosho announced the date on Friday after ruling that Kanu had failed to open his defence despite being granted six days by the court to present his case. The judge held that the IPOB leader could no longer claim denial of fair hearing since he did not utilise the opportunity provided.
Kanu, however, filed a fresh motion challenging the legality of the charges against him. He argued that terrorism is no longer an offence under Nigerian law, insisting that the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act—on which the charges are based—has been repealed. Read Also: Breaking: Nnamdi Kanu Makes U-Turn, Begins Filing Defence in Terrorism Trial
He maintained that there was “no valid case” pending against him and urged the court to dismiss the charges and grant him freedom.
The court will determine the matter in less than two weeks, a development expected to draw nationwide attention given the high-profile and long-running nature of Nnamdi Kanu’s trial.