Court to deliver judgment today in Kanu’s terrorism case

Embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, will today know his fate as the Federal High Court in Abuja delivers judgment in his prolonged legal battle with the Federal Government.

Justice James Omotosho is expected to rule on several applications filed by both parties, including Kanu’s challenge to the competence of the terrorism charges against him and his request for release on the grounds of alleged unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental rights.

In a fresh motion, the IPOB leader argued that the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act under which he was being tried had been repealed.

He urged the court to strike out the charges, stating that they “disclosed no offence known to law” and were therefore a nullity.

The separatist leader also asked the court to expunge the “purported plea of not guilty” entered for him, claiming it was obtained under deception and in defiance of the Supreme Court’s ruling.

He further sought an order setting aside all subsequent proceedings and directing his immediate release.

Kanu is currently facing seven terrorism-related charges bordering on incitement, running an unlawful organisation and actions deemed threatening to national security, allegations he denies.

Arrested in 2015, he fled Nigeria after being granted bail in 2017 but was rearrested in 2021 and has since been held in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS), custody.