Kanu Opts for No-Case Submission, Halts Defence in Terrorism Trial

T The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has withdrawn his earlier plan to open a defence in the terrorism charges filed against him, insisting that the Federal Government has failed to establish any case worthy of response.

At Monday’s proceedings before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Kanu declared that he would not call witnesses or testify, arguing that the amended charges were “unlawful and unsupported by evidence.” He urged the court to dismiss the case outright.

Justice Omotosho directed Kanu’s legal team to prepare and file a formal no-case submission and serve the prosecution. He fixed November 4 for the adoption of final written addresses — a critical step that will determine whether the court frees Kanu or orders him to enter full defence at a later stage.

Kanu had previously cited restricted access to his case materials following the withdrawal of his former lawyers as a major obstacle. His defence had initially planned to call foreign witnesses from Ethiopia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States to testify.

The high-profile trial continues to command national attention, particularly in the South-East, where Kanu enjoys strong support among members and sympathisers of IPOB.