![Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.[PHOTO CREDIT: Ripples Nigeria]](https://crediblenewsng.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Nnamdi-Kanu-.jpg)
A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled judgment for November 20 in the terrorism trial of the detained leader of the proscribed separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice James Omotosho chose the date on Friday while ruling after Kanu failed to open his defence after exhausting the six days allocated to him by the court to conduct his defence.
The judge said Kanu, having failed to utilise the opportunity granted him to conduct his defence, he cannot claim to have been denied the constitutionally guaranteed rights to fair hearing.
Briefly on Friday, the court stood down proceedings to enable Kanu file and depose to a fresh affidavit in his ongoing terrorism trial.
The proceedings opened with Kanu alleging that the Department of State Services had blocked his attempts for three consecutive days to file documents necessary for his defence.
He told the court he had brought a process to be filed but had not been permitted to depose to the affidavit, prompting him to appeal directly to the judge for intervention.
“My lord, I have a process here to file which has not been allowed for the last three days,” he said.
Justice Omotosho sought an explanation from DSS officers present in court.
A DSS operative replied that although Kanu had indicated a desire to file on Wednesday and Thursday, established security protocol, which requires a formal written request from his former lawyers, now acting as consultants, had not been followed.
He argued that this failure resulted in logistical complications regarding Kanu’s movement.
However, Kanu contested the DSS narrative, insisting the officers prevented him from accessing court processes and refused alternative suggestions such as allowing the court’s commissioner for oaths to bring the necessary stamp to him.
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DSS counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), confirmed that movement protocol is governed strictly by the court’s earlier orders.
He requested a standdown of one hour to allow Kanu to file the documents and admitted he had not been informed by Kanu’s consultants of the defendant’s intention to file the process.
Justice Omotosho then ordered registry staff and the commissioner for oaths to enter the courtroom with all required materials so that Kanu could complete the filing without needing to be transported back and forth.
He also issued a standing directive allowing court officers to visit the DSS facility with the court stamp whenever Kanu needs to depose to a document.
Later in the day, the judge ruled on the prosecution’s application seeking to foreclose Kanu’s defence.
Omotosho held that Kanu had already been given six days to conduct his defence but declined all opportunities to do so. He therefore concluded that Kanu could not claim denial of fair hearing.
The judge then announced November 20 as the date for judgment in the terrorism trial.
Kanu, who insists that no valid charge exists against him, is facing allegations of terrorism, incitement, and involvement in activities linked to the proscribed IPOB.
