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, citing his inability to access vital case documents still in the possession of his former legal team.
Kanu, who is representing himself after dismissing his legal counsel, informed the court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako that his former lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), had not handed over the case file, making it impossible for him to proceed with his defence as scheduled.
He explained that he had made several efforts to retrieve the documents but was yet to get full access to the files containing sensitive materials and evidence crucial to his defence. Kanu therefore pleaded for a brief adjournment to enable him to recover the materials and prepare adequately.
The IPOB leader further told the court that he intends to call witnesses from abroad, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Kenya, and Ethiopia, to testify in his favour. He appealed to the court to direct the Department of State Services (DSS), where he is currently being detained, to allow him to meet with his defence team and witnesses over the weekend.
In her ruling, Justice Nyako granted his request and adjourned the matter till Monday, October 27, 2025, for Kanu to open his defence. The judge, however, cautioned that the six-day window earlier allocated for the defence would not be extended beyond the adjourned date, stressing that the case is proceeding under accelerated hearing.
The prosecution team, led by the Federal Government’s counsel, did not object to the adjournment request. The court subsequently directed the DSS to allow Kanu unfettered access to his legal representatives and potential witnesses to ensure adequate preparation for the next hearing.
Kanu is facing multiple terrorism-related charges brought against him by the Federal Government, including incitement, treasonable felony, and membership of a proscribed organisation. The trial, which has spanned several years, follows his arrest and extradition from Kenya in 2021.
Observers say the delay in opening his defence adds a new twist to a long-running legal battle that has drawn both domestic and international attention. Human rights groups have repeatedly called for fairness and transparency in the proceedings, while the government maintains that Kanu must face justice for actions linked to violent separatist agitations in the South-East.
With the court’s next sitting scheduled for Monday, all eyes are on whether Kanu will finally commence his defence or if another procedural setback will further prolong the high-profile case that continues to stir political and legal debate across Nigeria.