ABUJA, Nigeria — Nnamdi Kanu, leader of di Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), don plead not guilty to seven counts of terrorism and treasonable felony as im trial don begin afresh on Friday, March 21, 2025.
Di trial take place for di Federal High Court for Abuja after Kanu request Justice Binta Nyako make she withdraw from di case, wey he accuse of bias. Now, Justice James Omotosho dey handle di case.
Di Nigerian government don accuse Kanu of terrorism and attempts to destabilize di government, due to di activities of IPOB, wey dey push for independence of di Southeast region of Nigeria as Biafra. Di group don dey classified as terrorist organization since 2017.
Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu chief defense counsel, talk on X last week say, “we dey primed and ready” for di trial. Kanu use im chance for di resumed hearing to plead not guilty to di charges.
Justice Omotosho don set accelerated hearing for di case, as e don dey stretch for 10 years now, and adjourn di matter to April 29, plus 2nd and 6th of May 2025 for trial proper to start.
Before di adjournment, Kanu Agabi, a former Attorney General and one of Kanu lawyers, apologize for any outburst wey happen during di court proceedings. He explain say, “I bin dey angry and no suppose talk out of anger. I apologize to Justice Binta Nyako, di prosecution, and Kanu lawyers.”
Di federal government counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, respond to di apology, say, “I don forgive Kanu because I no be persecutor, but a prosecutor, and we go make sure say we do our due diligence.”
Justice Omotosho also extend im apology on behalf of Kanu, noting di long duration of di trial, saying, “When dem first arrest Kanu in 2015, he bin dey 47 years; now he dey 57. Im anger dey justified because e don suffer for 10 years without any progress.”
Di case don start all over again since di new judge don take over, which mean dem go read di charges again to allow Kanu plead. Out of 15 charges, eight don already been struck out, but seven charges dey remain.
Di prosecution may ask make di trial continue after Kanu plead, but di defense lawyers likely go apply for bail for am, something dem don dey try to achieve since di case start under Justice Nyako.
Nyako bin accuse Kanu of jumping bail in 2017, when he flee di country, claiming say soldiers attack im house. Kanu defense insist say he no jump bail but run for im life.
As di leader of IPOB, wey dey base for London, Kanu don dey advocate for di Southeast to break away from Nigeria to become independent country. Him major platform na Radio Biafra wey also dey for London.
Kanu first arrest happen in October 2015 by di Department of State Services (DSS) after he return to Nigeria. Dem charge am for treason based on im broadcast on Radio Biafra wey dem say dey undermine di stability of di nation.
He bin dey remanded for Kuje prison, Abuja, until April 2017 when Justice Nyako grant am bail on health grounds with conditions say make e no talk to di press and no gather with more than 10 people.
Di bail amount wey dem set na N100 million with three sureties, one of dem na Abia State Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. Kanu escape from public eye after soldiers purportedly attack im home during a security operation known as Operation Python Dance.
Kanu claimed di attack lead to di death of im parents within two months of each other in 2019, and he later show up for Jerusalem to pray. He later return to London before security forces capture am in Kenya and extradite am back to Nigeria in June 2021.
Now, di matter dey before Justice James Omotosho after di Supreme Court vacate di earlier judgement wey order Kanu’s release, allowing di federal government to proceed with di remaining charges against him.
