By Ademola Adekusibe | October 24, 2025
The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday failed to open his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu told the court that he could not proceed because his former legal team, led by ex-Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN), had not handed over his case file, preventing him from adequately preparing for his defence.
The defendant had been scheduled to begin his defence on Thursday but instead announced the dismissal of his legal team and sought a short adjournment to enable him to manage his case personally.
At Friday’s proceedings, prosecuting counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) informed the court that the matter was fixed for Kanu to open his defence. However, when called upon, Kanu explained that those responsible for transmitting his case file to the Department of State Services (DSS) facility, where he is being held, had not done so.
He pleaded for an adjournment until Monday, October 27, to enable him to access the case file and familiarise himself with its contents. Kanu also told the court he was expecting witnesses from the United Kingdom, the United States, Kenya, and Ethiopia, and requested permission to meet with them over the weekend for case preparation.
Granting the request, Justice James Omotosho ordered the DSS to allow Kanu to receive visitors on Saturday and Sunday. The judge adjourned the matter until October 27 for the defendant to open his defence, warning that the six days already allotted for his defence, which began on October 23, would not be extended.
