By Paul Ebi
For the fourth consecutive time, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on Tuesday, failed to open his defence in the ongoing terrorism trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his rearrest in 2021, is facing a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism and related offences brought against him by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
At Tuesday’s sitting, Kanu, dressed in his usual native attire, insisted through his legal team that the prosecution had yet to establish the legal basis for the charges against him. He argued that the court must first determine the validity of the charges before he could proceed to present his defence.
His lead counsel maintained that the Federal Government had not shown under which specific law Kanu was being charged, stressing that continuing the trial without such clarification would amount to a violation of his client’s constitutional rights.
The prosecution, however, urged the court to compel Kanu to open his defence, insisting that the charges had already been validated by the court during earlier proceedings.
Justice Binta Nyako, who presided over the case, listened to both sides and adjourned the matter to a later date for further hearing, directing that Kanu remain in DSS custody pending the next sitting.
The courtroom was again filled with tight security, as heavily armed operatives mounted barricades around the court premises to control movement and prevent any form of disturbance.
Kanu’s continued detention and repeated adjournments have continued to generate reactions across the South-East and among rights groups, who argue that the prolonged trial amounts to a denial of fair hearing and justice.
Observers note that Tuesday’s development marks another chapter in a long-running legal battle that has tested Nigeria’s judicial process and the Federal Government’s approach to separatist movements.
