Nnamdi Kanu has moved to stop court judgment in terrorism case.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a fresh motion before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stop the court from delivering judgment in the terrorism case brought against him by the Federal Government.
Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021, personally signed the motion urging the court to suspend its planned judgment scheduled for November 20, 2025.
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In the motion, the IPOB leader argued that the entire trial process was conducted under a repealed and non-existent law, contrary to the Supreme Court’s directive, and therefore invalid.
He is asking the court for:
“An order arresting the delivery of judgment in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, on the ground that the proceedings were conducted under a repealed statute and in violation of Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution.”
Kanu further contended that the trial judge failed to comply with the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling which struck out one of the charges, Count 15, now renumbered as Count 7 declaring it non-existent in law.
According to him, any proceedings based on such a charge are null and void. He also argued that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to try him since the alleged offences occurred outside Nigeria, specifically in Kenya, without proof of any valid extradition or judicial process.
Kanu’s motion also claimed that forged materials were used against him, amounting to a denial of fair hearing, while insisting that his plea was taken under a repealed statute, making the entire process unconstitutional.
He therefore urged the court to set aside all rulings and proceedings presided over by Justice James Omotosho in the case for want of jurisdiction and violation of constitutional supremacy.
“It is in the interest of justice for this Honourable Court to arrest judgment ex debito justitiae,” Kanu stated in his filing.
It was gathered that Kanu intends to press for the motion to be heard before the November 20 judgment date.
Recall that Justice Omotosho had, on November 7, closed Kanu’s defence after he failed to present his case within the six days allotted, and subsequently fixed the matter for judgment.
The Federal Government accuses Kanu of leading a separatist movement that sought to carve out parts of Nigeria, including the South East, portions of the South South, and some areas in Kogi and Benue States to form an independent Biafran nation.
He was also accused of inciting violence through his broadcasts and illegally importing a radio transmitter for IPOB operations.
Kanu has consistently pleaded not guilty to all charges and, after initially listing over 20 witnesses including serving and former officials, later withdrew his defence, describing the case as “an invalid charge under a non-existent law.”
