The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday dealt a heavy blow to the defence of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as it ordered him to stand trial on terrorism-related charges after rejecting his no-case submission.
Delivering the ruling, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Kanu, stressing that at this stage of the proceedings the court was not required to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, but only to determine whether the evidence so far was credible enough to warrant the defendant entering his defence.
Kanu’s legal team had asked the court to dismiss the charges, arguing that the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to establish any link between him and acts of terrorism. They also challenged the court’s jurisdiction, citing his alleged extraordinary rendition from Kenya in 2021. Justice Omotosho dismissed the claim, noting that no credible evidence had been placed before the court to support it.
In a parallel application, Kanu requested transfer to the National Hospital in Abuja over health concerns. While refusing the transfer, the court acknowledged the conflicting medical reports submitted by both the defence and the DSS. To resolve the controversy, Justice Omotosho ordered the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to set up a panel of eight to ten medical experts — including a cardiologist, a neurologist, and the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital — to inspect the DSS facility and evaluate whether it was adequate for Kanu’s treatment. The medical panel was directed to submit its report within eight days.
The case has now been adjourned to October 8, when the court will consider the medical report and give further directions. Meanwhile, Kanu is expected to open his defence on the terrorism charges leveled against him by the Federal Government.
The ruling represents a significant setback for Kanu’s camp, which has long argued that the charges are politically motivated. It also prolongs one of the most high-profile trials in Nigeria’s recent history — one that has repeatedly drawn national and international attention amid debates over separatism, security, and human rights.