Security tension is high in the South-East and Abuja as Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), awaits judgment in his long-running terrorism trial. The Federal High Court in Abuja is set to deliver the verdict today, with proceedings broadcast live to the public.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, following his controversial return from Kenya. He faces seven terrorism-related charges, including alleged incitement, leading an unlawful organisation, and acts threatening national security - charges he denies.
Presiding over the case, Justice James Omotosho fixed the date for Thursday’s ruling after Kanu refused to open his defence, citing that the charges were based on repealed terrorism laws. The judge noted that Kanu had been granted six days to present his defence but effectively waived his right by not proceeding. Justice Omotosho clarified that the court had ensured a fair hearing, and Kanu’s inaction does not amount to a denial of his constitutional rights.
Kanu’s legal battle has been fraught with appeals, adjournments, and counter-applications. In October 2022, the Court of Appeal ordered his release, citing the illegality of his rendition from Kenya, but the Supreme Court later overturned that decision, sending the case back to the trial court.
Ahead of the verdict, security agencies have been placed on high alert. In Kanu’s hometown of Umuahia, Abia State, Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa confirmed strategic deployments and patrols across the state, working with other security agencies to maintain law and order.
In a related development, Kanu has filed a criminal complaint before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abuja against two DSS witnesses, TAA and BBB, alleging they gave false evidence on oath during his trial. He claims the witnesses provided materially false testimony to obscure the chain of custody of his 2015 and 2021 statements, including contradicting accounts about DSS officer Brown Ekwoaba, who oversaw his earlier detention and interviews.
The live broadcast of the verdict is expected to attract widespread attention, reflecting the case’s significance not only for Kanu’s personal liberty but also for political stability and security in the South-East. Observers note that the outcome could have far-reaching implications for regional reconciliation and national security.
Television crews from NTA, Channels TV, AIT, TVC, and other media outlets are present in the courtroom, ready to transmit the judgment live as the nation awaits a resolution to one of Nigeria’s most politically sensitive trials in recent years.
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