Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has once again demanded his immediate release, insisting that the Federal Government has no valid legal grounds to continue holding or prosecuting him.
During his court appearance on Tuesday, Kanu, who is now representing himself after dismissing his legal team, refused to open his defence in the seven-count terrorism case filed against him. He argued that without a valid and existing charge before the court, there was no lawful basis for him to defend himself or exchange final written addresses with the prosecution.
Addressing the court, Kanu urged the judge to take judicial notice of his motion challenging the court’s jurisdiction, alongside an affidavit he filed, insisting that the offences he is being tried for are not recognised by any existing Nigerian law. He maintained that his detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021 is unlawful and demanded his immediate freedom.
“You cannot ask me to begin my defence when you have not stated the law under which I am being charged,” Kanu declared. “There’s no valid law backing these charges. I ask to be released, and I urge this court to take judicial notice of the records before it.”
Citing Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, the IPOB leader argued that prosecuting him under a repealed law amounts to a constitutional violation. He accused the court of disregarding a Supreme Court ruling that, according to him, condemned his extraordinary rendition from Kenya by the Federal Government.
Kanu maintained that trying him under a repealed Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act was illegal. “There is no provision for this charge under the Constitution. I will not put up a defence under a repealed law. I won’t do that. I cannot be tried under a law that no longer exists,” he insisted.
However, the Federal Government’s counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), dismissed Kanu’s claims, describing his documents as legally defective and lacking probative value. He urged the court not to entertain what he called deliberate attempts by Kanu to waste judicial time.
Awomolo further asked the court to treat Kanu’s recent filings as his final written address and to proceed with adopting all submitted documents to move the case toward judgment.
The courtroom atmosphere was tense as both sides held their positions, leaving the next phase of the long-running legal battle uncertain.
