Kanu’s trial hits fresh delay as court adjourns over missing case file

The trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has once again been stalled, as the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned proceedings to Monday, October 27, 2025. The adjournment followed his inability to open his defence due to lack of access to his case file.

Presiding Judge, Justice James Omotosho, granted the adjournment after Kanu told the court that his former legal team, led by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, had withdrawn from the case on Thursday and had yet to hand over key documents to him.

Appearing in court without a lawyer for the first time since the trial began, Kanu arrived with a bundle of papers and personally announced his appearance. He explained that his counsel left the case the previous day and that he had not received the file from them, adding that those who attempted to deliver the documents were prevented from seeing him.

Kanu informed the court that he plans to call 23 witnesses, including foreign nationals from Ethiopia, Kenya, and the United States, whom he described as vital and compellable under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011. He requested more time to review his defence materials and asked for wider access to meet with his counsel and witnesses while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Justice Omotosho granted part of his request and directed the DSS to allow additional visits on Saturdays and Mondays to enable Kanu to adequately prepare for his defence. He also ordered that the DSS provide a secure facility for confidential consultations, following Kanu’s complaint that operatives had previously listened in on his discussions with his lawyers.

Counsel to the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, opposed any prolonged delay, reminding the court that an accelerated hearing schedule was already in place. He stated that the defendant had wasted the previous day and urged the court to maintain the standing order, stressing that the prosecution had already complied with the court’s deadline to close its case.

Justice Omotosho noted that the issue of the withheld case file was unusual, especially considering the seniority of Chief Agabi, but said the court would allow justice to prevail. He cautioned Kanu to make good use of the opportunity before him, warning that failure to do so could deny other defendants their right to trial. The judge pointed out that several detained defendants, including foreign nationals, were awaiting their hearings and that continued delays could affect their cases.

The judge reiterated that the court had introduced double sittings from morning and afternoon sessions to fast-track Kanu’s trial and said he would not hesitate to invoke relevant legal provisions if the delays persisted.

Earlier in the proceedings, Kanu maintained that his prosecution was politically motivated but reaffirmed his readiness to proceed with the trial once he regained access to his documents.