Judgement day for Nnamdi Kanu trial na November 20 - Court

Di Federal High Court for Abuja don set judgement for di terrorism mata against Nnamdi Kanu, leader of di Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), for 20 November, 2025.

Justice James Omotosho give di ruling afta Kanu fail again to open im defence, and di six days wey di court bin allocate to am for im defence don finish.

Di judge say as Kanu no gree use di opportunity wey dem give am to conduct im defence - "e no go claim say dem deny am im rights to fair hearing wey di constitution guarantee am," di Court tok.

Wen di mata start on Friday, Kanu as usual announce appearance for imsef while Adegboyega Awomolo announce appearance for di prosecution.

Kanu start by telling di court say im get important court processes wey e suppose file but dem neva allow am.

E read out di processes for court and e took say na based on sections 6(36) and 12 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, sections 165, 220, 274 and 311 of di Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Sections 122, 165 of di Evidence act 2011, and di Supreme Court judgement of di 15th of December 2023.

For inside di motion, Kanu pray di court to:

Di court stand down di trial for one hour make Kanu go file di processes and afta dat di mata kontinu.

Wen di hearing start again, Kanu kontinu to ask di court say e wan know unda wich law di federal govment dey charge am.

Dis na wetin Kanu don dey tok from di very first day wey e suppose begin im defence, wen e disengage all im lawyers and start to dey defend imsef.

Di Ipob leader maintain say e no go fit enta defence if dem no tell am im charges.

Justice Omotosho say dis na di last chance for di defendant to enta im defence and since e don waive am, di only option na to adjourn for judgement.

Di trial judge say e go treat all di motions wey both Kanu and di prosecution don file for im final judgment, and e adjourn di mata to November 20.

As e tok dis one, Kanu provoke and begin shout for court, demanding say dem must to tell am di charges wey dem dey charge am wit.

Nnamdi Kanu trial

Nnamdi Kanu mata bin dey bifor Justice Binta Nyako of di Federal High Court Abuja, and na she bin grant Kanu bail on health grounds for 2017, but Kanu run comot from Nigeria afta soldiers bin carry out security operation for im House for Umuahia, Abia State for southeast Nigeria.

For June 2021, security pipo for Kenya arrest Kanu and carry am by force come back to Nigeria to face trial.

Di initial charges against di Ipob leader bin dey 15, but Justice Nyako bring am down to seven.

Even though di Court of Appeal later strike out all di charges and discharge Kanu, di Supreme Court reinstate di seven charges as dem tok say di Ipob leader get questions to ansa.

Im dey face treason and terrorism charges and dem later transfer di case to anoda Judge, Justice James Omotosho for di same Abuja.

For September, di Federal High Court, Abuja overrule di no-case submission wey Nnamdi Kanu file against di terrorism charges wey Nigeria govment sama am.

Justice James Omotosho wey dey in charge of di trial rule say govment don establish prima facie evidence against Kanu and in di spirit of fair hearing, di defendant dey required to enta im defence.

Di court bin also order make di Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) investigate Kanu health status to determine weda e dey fit to stand trial and weda e dey necessary to transfer am from di detention facility of di Department of State Services (DSS) to di National Hospital.

Afta a few days, di Court Abuja deny di application to transfer Nnamdi Kanu, leader of di Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to di National Hospital.

Justice James Omotosho give di ruling based on di report by di Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) wey tok say Kanu dey fit enough to stand trial.

According to di report, di NMA say dia evaluation show say di health conditions wey Kanu get no dey life threatening and di medical facility for di premises of di Department of State Services, DSS, dey equipped enough to treat am.