Court Adjourns Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial To October 27

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to Monday, October 27, to allow him time to retrieve his case file and prepare his defence in the terrorism charges filed against him.

Justice James Omotosho made the decision on Friday after Kanu informed the court that his former legal team, led by ex-Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), had yet to release his case file. 

At the resumed hearing, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) appeared for the Federal Government and reminded the court that the session was scheduled for Kanu to begin his defence. However, no counsel represented the defendant.

Kanu, appearing in court with a bundle of documents, personally addressed the judge, saying his dismissed legal team had withheld his case file.
He said, “My lord, my counsel left the case yesterday, and I have not received the file from them.”

He requested an adjournment to retrieve and review the documents and also informed the court of plans to call 23 witnesses, both local and foreign. He further asked that the Department of State Services (DSS) allow his foreign witnesses access to him and that his lawyers be permitted to visit on non-working days, a request the judge granted.

Counsel to the Federal Government, Awomolo, described Kanu’s complaint as “strange,” noting that the defendant had spent several hours in court with his previous lawyers. He urged the court to uphold its earlier directive giving Kanu six days to open and close his defence.

Awomolo said, “I’m aware that there is a standing order for the defendant to defend himself within six days. The defendant wasted yesterday. This is the second day, my lord. I urge your lordship to keep to the standing order of the number of days given to the defendant.”

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho acknowledged that Kanu’s claim about the withheld file was “strange and difficult to believe,” but still granted a short adjournment in the interest of justice. He warned against further delays, noting that other cases had been affected by the drawn-out proceedings.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to Monday, October 27, for Kanu to open his defence.