IPOB Leader Refuses to Open Defence, Demands Charges Be Dropped In High-Stakes Trail
By Obi Njaka
In a dramatic twist at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu shocked onlookers by declaring he will not open a defence in his ongoing trial.
After meticulously reviewing the case files, Kanu boldly asserted that there is no valid charge against him, calling the prosecution's case baseless and the entire trial unlawful.
Addressing the court, Kanu challenged the existence of any law underpinning the charges, daring the judge to cite one. “If there’s any law, let my Lord read it out to me," he said. "I will not defend a charge that does not exist.”
He urged the court to either release him or grant bail, insisting that the prosecution has failed to present a legitimate case.
Earlier, Kanu had sought to summon powerful Nigerian political figures as witnesses, only to retract after realizing the flimsy legal foundation of the terrorism charges against him.
Justice James Omotosho responded by instructing Kanu to file a formal written statement outlining his position and advised him to seek advice from criminal law experts to understand the consequences of his stance.
The court adjourned until November 4th through 6th for final written submissions, where it will determine if the prosecution has established a prima facie case or if, as Kanu claims, the charges should be quashed.
This pivotal moment is one of Nigeria’s most controversial legal battles which captures the intense debate over justice, due process, and political persecution that continues to reverberate both nationally and internationally.