Nnamdi Kanu in Court.webp
The Digest:

The trial of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu took a dramatic turn as he refused to open his defence against terrorism charges, declaring that he has found "no charge" against him in Nigerian law. Representing himself, Kanu urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to release him immediately or grant him bail, stating he would not defend himself against a "fraudulent charge" that the Supreme Court had previously questioned.

Key Points:
  • Nnamdi Kanu refused to open his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial.
  • He declared, after reviewing his case file, that "there is no charge against me."
  • The IPOB leader argued that no extant Nigerian law supports the charges against him.
  • He urged the court to release him or grant him bail, citing illness.
  • The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, warned that the decision was "very dangerous."
  • The judge adjourned the case to November 4, giving Kanu seven days to consult lawyers.
  • The court will proceed with final addresses if Kanu maintains his stance.
This legal standoff creates a new storm in a protracted case, where the defendant's strategy of total defiance confronts the judicial process head-on, with freedom or conviction hanging in the balance.

Sources: TheCable