Federal Government of Nigeria Set to Resume Nnamdi Kanu’s Terrorism Trial on February 26

The Federal Government of Nigeria is gearing up to recommence the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the self-appointed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on charges of terrorism. The trial is scheduled to resume on Monday, February 26, pending any unforeseen circumstances.

The decision to resume the trial comes on the heels of the Supreme Court’s judgment on December 15, 2023, which greenlit the continuation of the legal proceedings against Kanu, specifically in relation to seven remaining charges.

A notice announcing the trial’s resumption has been issued, indicating that it will take place before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Notably, Kanu’s lead counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mike Ozekhome, and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice have been duly informed.

SK Blog has reported that the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been contacted to ensure the presence of Nnamdi Kanu in court on the specified date. Kanu has been in DSS custody since his arrest in Kenya on June 19, 2021, and subsequent extradition to Nigeria by the federal government.

Initially faced with 15 terrorism charges, Kanu saw eight charges dismissed by Justice Binta Nyako during the trial. In April 2022, the judge upheld seven charges against him, prompting Kanu to begin presenting his defense against the alleged offenses.

While the Court of Appeal in Abuja had, in October 2022, quashed the entire terrorism charges against Kanu and ordered his immediate release, the Supreme Court, in a judgment on December 15, 2023, overturned the decision of the lower court. The Apex Court emphasized that despite the government’s controversial and unlawful extradition of Kanu from Kenya, it did not hinder the court’s authority to proceed with the trial.

Justice Garba Lawal, leading the unanimous judgment but read by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, underscored that no Nigerian law supported the dismissal of charges due to Kanu’s unlawful abduction, asserting that the appropriate remedy would be for Kanu to pursue a civil matter against the government.