By Peter.
ABUJA — For the fourth straight hearing, Nnamdi Kanu, the jailed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), refused to mount a defense against the Federal Government’s seven-count terrorism indictment.
Appearing pro se after sacking his lawyers, Kanu told the court there is **no lawful charge** on record and therefore **no obligation** to respond or swap final addresses.
He pressed Justice James Omotosho to recognize his jurisdictional challenge—backed by a sworn affidavit—and order his **immediate release** from DSS detention, ongoing since 2021.
> “Show me the statute I’m charged under. None exists. The Terrorism Act is repealed. The Constitution is supreme; it lists no such crime. I will not defend a ghost charge, and I will not return to detention today,” Kanu insisted from the dock.
Citing **Section 36(12)** of the 1999 Constitution, he branded the trial a breach of his rights and a defiance of the Supreme Court’s condemnation of his **rendition from Kenya**.
Prosecutor **Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN**, dismissed Kanu’s filings as **procedurally defective** and a **time-wasting ploy**, urging the court to treat them as his final brief and move to judgment.
Justice Omotosho **overruled** the prosecution on competence, said the documents would be weighed in the verdict, and—mindful that Kanu is not a lawyer—gave him **one last chance** to retain counsel.
> “Fail to defend within the window, and the right is forfeited,” the judge warned.
Case adjourned to **Wednesday** for Kanu to either open his defense or lose the opportunity.
Background
On **October 24**, the court ordered Kanu to start presenting evidence. He had earlier named **23 VIP witnesses**—including sitting governors, ministers, ex-governors, and top security chiefs—and sought **90 days** to produce them. Seats were reserved; none appeared; Kanu abruptly dropped the plan.
The court had already rejected his no-case submission, holding that the five prosecution witnesses established a **prima facie** case of leading a secessionist group and inciting violence via broadcasts.
Kanu maintains his **not-guilty** plea.
