The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled November 20 for delivery of judgment in the terrorism case against detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice James Omotosho announced the date on Friday after the separatist leader failed to present his defense despite being granted six days by the court to do so.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho stated that Kanu, having been given adequate opportunity to conduct his defense but failing to utilize it, cannot subsequently claim that he was denied his constitutional right to fair hearing.
The decision to proceed to judgment follows the conclusion of the prosecution’s case and the expiration of the timeframe allocated for the defense to present its arguments and evidence before the court.
Kanu has been in detention since his controversial repatriation to Nigeria in June 2021 from Kenya, where he had been living after fleeing the country in 2017. He faces charges of terrorism and treasonable felony brought against him by the Nigerian government over his role in the agitation for Biafran independence.
The case has attracted significant attention both domestically and internationally, with various groups calling for his release or a political solution to the matter. However, the federal government has maintained that Kanu must face trial for alleged crimes committed in pursuit of his separatist agenda.
The scheduled judgment date will determine whether Kanu is convicted or acquitted of the terrorism charges against him, a decision that is likely to have significant implications for security and political dynamics in Nigeria’s Southeast region.
Further details about the proceedings and the court’s reasoning for the November 20 date are expected to emerge in the coming days.
