A Nigerian court has warned separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu that he risks losing his right to defend himself against terrorism charges if he fails to begin his defence by Wednesday, marking a decisive moment in a case that has spanned more than a decade.
Judge James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued the warning on Tuesday after Kanu again refused to proceed with his defence, having dismissed his legal team in open court. The judge said the court would “foreclose” his right to present a defence if he did not act within the one-day grace period.
Kanu, who heads the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a movement banned by the Nigerian government, faces seven counts of terrorism linked to his long-running campaign for an independent state in southeastern Nigeria. He has pleaded not guilty.
In a tense courtroom session, Kanu declared that he would represent himself and challenged the validity of the charges. Despite the judge’s efforts to persuade him to mount a defence, Kanu declined. The case was adjourned until Wednesday, when the court is expected to determine whether he has forfeited his right to testify.
The trial has become a flashpoint for unrest in Nigeria’s southeast, where support for Kanu and his secessionist cause remains strong. His arrest and extraordinary rendition from Kenya in 2021, after jumping bail in 2017, reignited separatist tensions in the region, where residents say they face economic neglect and political marginalisation.
Kanu’s movement draws its symbolism from the defunct Republic of Biafra, whose attempted secession from Nigeria in 1967 triggered a civil war that left more than one million people dead, mostly from starvation.
The federal government accuses IPOB of orchestrating violent attacks on security forces and government facilities, a claim the group denies. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have previously raised concerns over due process violations and the conditions of Kanu’s detention.
If Kanu fails to present a defence by Wednesday, the court could close his case and move directly to verdict proceedings.
Africa Digital News, New York
