Terrorism Case: Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyers Reveal Next Step as Federal Government Closes Its Case

By Arthur Maduka

Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team has announced plans to file a no-case submission following the closure of the Federal Government’s case against the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The decision was made known on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where proceedings continued in Kanu’s long-running terrorism trial.

The prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adegboyega Awomolo, called its fifth and final witness, an officer of the Department of State Services (DSS) identified in court records under the pseudonym “EEE.” The witness told the court that he knew of the defendant only through media reports and had never met him in person.

He testified that, in 2021, he was directed to lead a DSS team to the southern region of the country to gather information related to the 2020–2021 End SARS protests. His assignment included compiling records of public infrastructure damaged during the protests and obtaining death certificates of security personnel who lost their lives.

Awomolo presented three documents for admission into evidence: a summary of damage caused by the protests, a list of deceased security officers, and the corresponding death certificates. He stated that, according to the documents, 128 police officers, 37 army officers, and 10 DSS operatives were killed, 164 police stations were destroyed, and 19 facilities belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also targeted.

Kanu’s defense team, led by Kanu Agabi, SAN, opposed the admission of these documents into evidence, raising concerns about their authenticity and relevance. During cross-examination, defense counsel Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, questioned the witness on his direct involvement in investigating the specific charges against Kanu. The witness admitted that he did not investigate Kanu personally but claimed the defendant’s broadcasts incited violence during the End SARS protests.

When asked whether Kanu was solely responsible for the nationwide protests, the witness said he could not confirm that but alleged that the defendant encouraged attacks on security personnel and public property. Ikpeazu countered by pointing out that the End SARS movement was largely a protest against police brutality, particularly involving the now-disbanded SARS unit. The witness replied that while police misconduct may have been a surface cause, he believed the unrest was driven by deeper subversive influences, including Kanu’s broadcasts.

The witness also revealed that he was a member and the secretary of the presidential ad-hoc committee tasked with assessing the damages from the protests. However, under cross-examination, he failed to identify any official signatures authenticating the submitted documents, stating only that he recognized and certified them by reviewing their content. He added that copies of the documents were also held by the Department of Public Prosecutions under the Ministry of Justice.

Defense counsel pointed out that the documents were not part of the original proof of evidence and were only produced and filed on June 13, 2025. The prosecution did not seek to re-examine the witness after cross-examination was concluded.

Following the testimony, Awomolo announced that the prosecution had concluded its case, asserting that the evidence and witnesses presented were sufficient to prove the government’s case against Kanu. In response, the defense formally indicated its intention to file a no-case submission—a legal move arguing that the prosecution has not provided enough evidence to require the defendant to mount a defense.

Justice Omotosho granted the defense 15 days to file the no-case submission and gave the prosecution an additional 14 days to respond. The matter has been adjourned to July 18, 2025.