By Peter Omopo
Abuja, July 19, 2025 — The Federal Government has maintained that Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), must stand trial on terrorism-related charges.
At a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, the government’s lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, urged the court to dismiss Kanu’s no-case submission, insisting that sufficient evidence had been presented to warrant a full trial.
Kanu is facing a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism, brought against him by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. The charges stem from a series of broadcasts made on Radio Biafra, in which the prosecution alleges that Kanu incited violence and made seditious statements threatening Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Awomolo argued before Justice James Omotosho that Kanu’s remarks were not mere expressions of dissent but clear threats to national security. He alleged that Kanu, through his broadcasts, encouraged attacks on police officers and their families, citing the killing of over 170 security personnel in the wake of those messages.
“The defendant made a broadcast in which he proudly declared himself as the IPOB leader, despite the group’s proscription. He threatened to bring the country to a halt and incited people to take up arms. These are serious offences under Nigerian law,” Awomolo told the court.
He further asserted that such statements instilled fear in the public and should not be dismissed as rhetorical bravado.
However, Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, pushed back, describing the prosecution’s claims as speculative and unsupported by evidence. He argued that throughout the trial, no witness had testified to being incited by Kanu, and the Department of State Services (DSS) witnesses merely recorded statements without conducting any further investigation.
Agabi also noted that the charges had been amended eight times, yet no conclusive proof had been presented linking Kanu’s words to actual acts of terrorism. He contended that his client’s calls for self-defence were within constitutional rights and had been similarly echoed by respected figures, including retired General T.Y. Danjuma.
He condemned Kanu’s long-term solitary confinement, stating it violated international human rights standards. “Solitary confinement beyond 15 days is outlawed by international law. My client has endured this for nearly a decade,” Agabi added.
Agabi urged the court to dismiss the case for lack of a prima facie foundation, arguing that no legal basis existed to compel Kanu to open a defence.
After hearing both sides, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to October 10, 2025, for ruling on the no-case submission.
