Nnamdi Kanu’s long-running terrorism trial resumed dramatically at the Federal High Court in Abuja this week, marked by masked witnesses, a powerhouse legal defense, and renewed calls from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for his immediate release. The IPOB leader, facing seven amended charges including terrorism and incitement, appeared in court flanked by six Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) as prosecutors presented Radio Biafra equipment and interrogation recordings as evidence.
The Department of State Services (DSS) submitted devices linked to Radio Biafra and played CDs of Kanu’s prior interrogations, while their first witness-an 18-year operative identified as “Mr. AAA”-testified behind a screen, recounting Kanu’s 2015 arrest at a Lagos hotel. The court granted the prosecution’s request to shield witness identities due to security risks, though Kanu’s legal team, led by former Attorney-General Kanu Agabi, secured assurances of cooperation on bail negotiations.
IPOB condemned the trial as unconstitutional, citing violations of Nigeria’s Extradition Act and international human rights treaties, while urging global intervention to secure Kanu’s freedom. The case, now spanning nearly a decade, has become a litmus test for Nigeria’s judiciary amid rising regional tensions, with the court scheduling further hearings for May 2 and 6 as both sides prepare for a legal showdown.