Judul : Kanu’s fate to be decided October 10 in terrorism trial
link : Kanu’s fate to be decided October 10 in terrorism trial
Kanu’s fate to be decided October 10 in terrorism trial
A Federal High Court in Abuja has set October 10 to decide whether Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has a case to answer in the terrorism charges brought against him.
Prosecution’s Argument
Prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), asked the court to reject the no-case submission filed by Kanu’s legal team and to require him to present his defence.
Awomolo claimed that Kanu promoted violence and destruction through broadcasts, which led to the deaths of over 170 security officers. He said the prosecution presented strong evidence, including video and audio clips, and called five witnesses.
He insisted that this stage of the trial only requires the court to determine if there is enough evidence to ask the defendant to respond. He argued that the defence was wrongly challenging the credibility of the witnesses, which is meant to be handled later during full trial.
Awomolo pointed out that Kanu admitted, in some of the videos, that he leads IPOB, a group already declared illegal.
He also noted that Kanu made statements encouraging violence, and said these were not mere “boasts” but threats that frightened people.
He rejected the claim that Kanu has been in solitary confinement for 10 years, clarifying that Kanu was arrested in 2015, released on bail in 2017, and only re-arrested in 2022 after jumping bail. He accused the defence team of causing trial delays over the past three years.
Regarding the legality of IPOB’s ban, Awomolo said the Supreme Court is still considering that matter and this trial court should not interfere.
Defence’s Response
Kanu’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that the prosecution has not proved any of the terrorism charges. He said the prosecution did not present anyone who was directly influenced or harmed by Kanu’s speeches.
Agabi claimed that Kanu’s comments were simply boastful statements and not criminal threats.
He compared Kanu’s call for self-defence to similar statements made by top government officials, like the Director General of the DSS and former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma.
He criticised the prosecution’s evidence, including reports and witness testimonies, arguing that many were unreliable. He said witnesses often responded with “I don’t know” or “I can’t remember” under questioning, which weakens the case.
Agabi also said that Kanu has been in solitary confinement for over six years, which violates international laws that limit such confinement to 15 days. He added that this long isolation has affected Kanu’s mental health.
He argued that the prosecution failed to respond to 10 key points raised by the defence and pointed out that the charge has been amended several times without clearly naming any people Kanu allegedly invited to commit crimes.
Agabi also questioned the legality of IPOB’s proscription, arguing that the proper process, including presidential approval, was not followed.
He further stated that the court lacks authority to hear a charge involving a transmitter, as that issue had already been addressed by the Court of Appeal.
The court will now decide on October 10 whether Kanu should enter a defence or be discharged.
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