Kanu Seeks End To Trial As He Submits Letter To CJN

By Zainab Imam 

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday made an unscheduled appearance at the Supreme Court in Abuja, where he personally submitted a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, requesting an immediate end to his ongoing terrorism trial.

Kanu, who was escorted into the court premises by heavily armed operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), is seeking the discontinuance of the case on the grounds that the law under which he is being prosecuted has been repealed.

His visit came just days ahead of the November 20 judgment date fixed by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the long-running terrorism case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015. The trial judge had ordered Kanu to open his defence after the prosecution closed its case, but the IPOB leader refused, insisting that the court lacked jurisdiction because the earlier Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2013 — under which he is being tried — no longer exists.

According to filings at the Court of Appeal, Kanu is simultaneously seeking a stay of proceedings, arguing that the trial cannot continue until the appellate court hears and rules on his jurisdictional objections. His legal team maintains that Nigeria’s current terrorism legislation — the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 — places specific conditions on the court’s powers, which they say were not satisfied in his case, especially regarding his controversial 2021 arrest in Kenya and subsequent rendition to Nigeria.

Wednesday’s appearance triggered brief chants of “Onyendu! Onyendu!” from some workers and onlookers at the Supreme Court who recognised him, though security personnel quickly dispersed the crowd.

Kanu’s move adds a fresh twist to a case that has spanned several years and drawn significant local and international attention. Ahead of the November 20 judgment, the Federal Government has not officially responded to the claims about the repeal of the old terrorism law, but security sources insist the prosecution is confident in its case.

The coming days are expected to clarify whether the Supreme Court will formally acknowledge the letter and whether the Court of Appeal will halt the lower court’s judgment. For now, Kanu’s dramatic appearance signals a last-minute effort to stop what could be a decisive ruling in one of Nigeria’s most politically charged trials.