Court Sets Deadline for FG to Close Case Against Nnamdi Kanu, Warns Against Further Delays

Justice James Omotosho issues a strict timeline for the federal government to close the case against Nnamdi Kanu in the long-running IPOB trial.

The trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resumed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, with a stern warning from the presiding judge against any further delays. Justice James Omotosho made it clear that the court would no longer tolerate tactics that could prolong the case, which has already dragged on for close to a decade.

DSS Labels ESN an Illegal Armed Group
At the heart of Thursday’s proceedings was the testimony from the Department of State Services (DSS), which described the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the paramilitary wing of IPOB, as an illegal and unauthorized organization.
The second prosecution witness, identified in court only as ‘BBB’ due to security reasons, stated during cross-examination that the ESN lacked any legal or constitutional backing.
According to the DSS operative, the ESN was created by the defendant, Nnamdi Kanu, without any recognition from the Nigerian legal framework.
In contrast, the witness pointed out that Amotekun, the security outfit operating in Nigeria’s South-West region, was formed legally.

“My Lord, while the ESN is not a registered organization recognized by law, Amotekun was established following laws passed by the respective Houses of Assembly in the South-West states,”

The witness explained, adding that members of Amotekun also carry arms but are regulated by legislation.
The witness testified from behind a protective screen, a measure earlier approved by the court to ensure his identity remains concealed for security purposes.

Kanu’s Legal Team Challenges Prosecution Narrative
Kanu’s defense team, led by seasoned legal minds, mounted a strong challenge to the DSS narrative. In a bid to debunk the claim that Nnamdi Kanu was the mastermind of the violence that followed the #EndSARS protests in Lagos, the team submitted a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry report on Restitution for Victims of SARS and Other Related Abuses.

This critical document was admitted as Exhibit PWUO.
The defense also presented a flash drive containing supporting video evidence, accompanied by a certificate of compliance. Both the drive and the certificate were admitted by the court and marked as Exhibits PWI and PWP, respectively.
With the court's permission, the defense team played a short video clip in open court. The footage featured several notable figures, including the Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi; Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; and former Chief of Army Staff and Defence Minister, Lt. Gen. T.Y. Danjuma.
In the clip, DSS boss Ajayi emphasized the importance of community support in fighting insecurity. He advocated for public cooperation with security agencies and encouraged communities to take proactive steps in protecting themselves from criminal elements.
Governor Uzodinma, in the same footage, made statements exonerating the ESN from alleged assassinations of high-profile figures in Orlu, Imo State. Instead, he laid the blame on political opponents, suggesting that the ESN had been wrongly accused.
Perhaps the most controversial portion of the video was the speech by Gen. Danjuma, who accused the Nigerian Armed Forces of colluding with criminals. In his stark warning, he told citizens, “If you are depending on the Armed Forces to stop the killings, you will die, one-by-one.” His statement seemed to reinforce the defense’s position that communities, out of desperation, formed alternative self-defense groups. NIDCOM Reports That Three More Nigerian Girls Were Saved From Human Trafficking In Ghana.

Judge Warns Against Stalling Sets Firm Dates
Justice Omotosho didn’t mince words during the session. Noting the decade-long timeline of the case, the judge stressed that Nnamdi Kanu's prolonged detention was a key reason for ordering an accelerated hearing.

“This matter has lingered for too long. We will no longer entertain any form of delay,” Justice Omotosho declared.To ensure the case moves forward, the court scheduled six fixed dates for the federal government to conclude its case: May 28 and 29 and June 6, 16, 18, and 19, 2025.

Nnamdi Kanu’s legal saga began on October 14, 2015, when he was first arrested upon his return from the United Kingdom. Initially held in detention for about 18 months, he was granted bail on health grounds on April 25, 2017, and was released on April 28 of the same year after meeting the bail conditions.
However, his trial took a dramatic turn in September 2017 when Nigerian soldiers stormed his residence in Afara Ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State. The raid resulted in the deaths of several IPOB members, and Kanu fled the country.
He resurfaced in Kenya in 2021, only to be arrested again on June 19. He was subsequently extradited under controversial circumstances, which legal experts describe as “extraordinary rendition,” and brought back to Nigeria on June 27, 2021.

Upon his return, he was re-arraigned and has since been held in DSS custody.
In 2022, the court struck out eight of the fifteen-count charges originally leveled against him by the federal government, ruling that they lacked merit. Later that year, on October 13, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal ordered Kanu's release and quashed the remaining charges.
But the legal battle didn’t end there. The federal government, dissatisfied with the appellate court’s ruling, appealed to the Supreme Court. While the appeal was pending, they successfully secured a stay of execution on the lower court's judgment.
On December 15, 2023, the Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal's verdict and gave the federal government the go-ahead to proceed with the trial on the remaining seven-count charges.

As the trial resumes on the scheduled dates, all eyes will be on the federal government to see how it concludes its case and whether it can substantiate the charges against Nnamdi Kanu. For many observers, the outcome of this case holds serious implications not only for the IPOB leader but also for Nigeria’s broader conversations around self-determination, security, and the rule of law.
With the court’s no-nonsense posture and a fixed timeline in place, a long-awaited conclusion may finally be in sight.

By Primelineinfo