The Federal Government on Friday, re-arraigned Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on amended charge bordering on terrorism at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu, who was re-arraigned before Justice James Omotosho, pleaded not guilty to the seven counts.
The re-arraignment followed Kanu’s message, delivered by his new counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, shortly after the case was called.
The message was titled: “Apology By Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Delivered on His Behalf by Kanu G. Agabi, SAN, CON.”
Kanu had apologised to the court, Justice Binta Nyako, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, who appeared for the Federal Government, and his own team of lawyers earlier led by Aloy Ejimakor, for all his attacks, which he said was done out of anger.
NAN reports that Kanu was earlier re-arraigned before Justice Nyako on amended 15 counts after he was brought back to the country in June 2021 from Kenya.
On April 8, 2022, the trial court struck out eight of the 15 counts in the charge. The remaining seven counts; 1, 2 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15, were later quashed by the Court of Appeal on Oct. 13, 2025.
However, the FG filed an appeal at the Supreme Court to challenge the Appeal Court judgment.
It also filed an application seeking to stay the execution of the appellate court’s judgment and the court granted the government’s request.
On Dec. 15, 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the Federal Government’s appeal challenging the verdict of the Appeal Court which dismissed the charges against Kanu.
The apex court held that Kanu must face trial at the Federal High Court on the remaining seven counts.
Before the counts were read to Kanu, Justice Omotosho made an order changing count eight to count six and count 15 to count seven.
Therefore, the IPOB leader pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three, four, five, six and seven.
After the plea, Chief Awomolo informed the court his readiness to conduct prosecution in line with the spirit and letters of the Supreme Court that ordered fresh trial.
He asked for a trial date to enable him assemble his witnesses and also applied for accelerated hearing which was granted by the court.
Chief Agabi did not opposed the prosecution’s application.
Justice Omotosho, who ordered an accelerated hearing of the case, adjourned the matter until April 29, May 2 and May 6 for trial.
Kanu, who dressed in his usual sports wears, was cooled and calmed throughout the proceedings.
According to the charge, Kanu made a broadcast that was heard across Nigeria, in which he issued a threat that anyone who flouted a sit-at-home order in the south-east, should write his or her will.
The Federal Government alleged that as a result of the threat, banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, and petrol stations in the south-east have continued to shut down their businesses, with citizens and vehicular movements grounded.
It further alleged that Kanu’s broadcasts made on different dates between 2018 and 2021, incited members of the public to attack Nigerian security personnel and their family members, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.
It also alleged that Kanu directed members of IPOB “to manufacture bombs”.
The federal government also alleged that Kanu between March and April 2015, “imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulisiuzor in Ihiala LGA of Anambra, a radio transmitter known as Tram 50L, concealed in a container of used household items which you declared as used household items.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 47(2)(a) of Criminal Code Act Cap, C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
