Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 18, 2025, for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to open his defence in the terrorism charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
The date was announced on Thursday following the Federal Government’s decision to close its case after presenting five witnesses who testified in support of the charges.
There are, however, strong indications that Kanu may opt to file a no-case submission, arguing that he was not properly linked to the alleged terrorism incidents cited by the prosecution.
The lead counsel for the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo SAN, announced the closure of the case after the fifth prosecution witness, identified as EEE for security reasons, concluded his testimony and cross-examination by Kanu’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN.
Awomolo stated that the prosecution was satisfied with the evidence presented, which included broadcasts attributed to the IPOB leader.
“I therefore close the case,” he declared.
Responding, lead defence counsel Kanu Agabi SAN informed the court of their intention to file a no-case submission, which would be entered in due course.
Earlier during the proceedings, the fifth prosecution witness, a Department of State Services (DSS) officer based at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, testified that he led a team of operatives to the southern region of Nigeria to collect records related to the #EndSARS protests between 2020 and 2021.
According to the witness, his team’s mandate was to document the destruction of public property and gather death certificates of security personnel who lost their lives during the demonstrations.
The court admitted three documents presented by the witness: a report of the #EndSARS assessments, a list of fallen officers, and corresponding death certificates. The defence team, however, noted that they would formally register their objections later. The documents were marked as exhibits PWD2, PWD2A, and PWD2B.
A summary of the exhibits revealed that 128 police officers, 37 military personnel, and 10 DSS operatives were killed during the protests. Additionally, 164 police stations and 19 facilities belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were reportedly destroyed.
Under cross-examination, the witness acknowledged that he did not investigate any specific crimes allegedly committed by Kanu, but rather focused on the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests, which he claimed were influenced by the defendant’s broadcasts.
When asked if the #EndSARS protests in Osun and Lagos were directly incited by Kanu, the witness responded:
“My assignment was not to investigate Biafra, my assignment was to investigate the #EndSARS issue to which the defendant incited the public.”
An excerpt of the exchange during cross-examination is as follows:
Ikpeazu: So when people destroyed properties in Osun and Lagos during the #EndSARS protest, you are saying that they did that because the defendant asked them to? Are you saying categorically that the #EndSARS issue is a Biafran issue?
EEE: My assignment was not to investigate Biafra, my assignment was to investigate the #EndSARS issue to which the defendant incited the public.
Ikpeazu: Have you heard of Aisha Yesufu, the one that led protests?
EEE: Yes I’ve heard about her.
Ikpeazu: Is she Igbo or from Abia State?
EEE: I have never investigated her so I don’t know.
Ikpeazu: Are you aware that #EndSARS protest was chiefly against police brutality especially with the SARS faction of the police?
EEE: There are usually two causes of an insurrection – the open causes and the underlying causes. Police brutality could be the secondary cause of the protest, the real reasons for the protests was because some subversive elements incited the public against the government. In this case the defendant’s broadcasts was one of those underlying causes.
Ikpeazu: What organization is the defendant allegedly leading?
EEE: IPOB.
