By Abiola Olawale
The high-profile alleged terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), took a dramatic turn on Monday, October 27, 2025, as the defendant abandoned his plan to call witnesses and firmly insisted there is “no valid charge” against him.
​Appearing before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Kanu—who recently announced his intention to personally conduct his defense after disengaging his legal team—informed the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, that a review of his case file had convinced him that the entire proceedings were an “unlawful trial” due to the fundamental absence of a legal charge.
This comes after the court had previously adjourned the case to Monday to allow Kanu to open his defense, following the dismissal of his “no-case submission” by the same court on September 26, which compelled him to enter a defense.
At the resumed hearing, Kanu said he has gone through the case file and has realised that there is no valid charge against him.
He argued that since he is convinced that there is no valid charge against him and that he was subjected to an unlawful trial, there would be no need for him to open any defence.
​Justice Omotosho acknowledged the defendant’s position but directed him to formally file a written address outlining his legal argument for why a defense is unnecessary.
The judge advised him to consult experts in criminal law on the consequences of the option he has chosen.
The judge, thereafter, adjourned till the 4th,5th & 6th November for the adoption of the final written addresses based on the defendant’s position that the evidence led so far and the charge had not established any case against him, or for the defendant to enter his defence.
