On Thursday, a group of Nigerians staged a protest in Abuja, condemning the ongoing insecurity in the South-East region.
The protesters gathered at the National Assembly gate, holding placards, some bearing images of victims of gunmen attacks in the region. They urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly not to yield to calls to halt the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
Wearing branded T-shirts, the demonstrators also criticised calls for Kanu’s release. Opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have called for his immediate release, describing his prolonged detention as a serious violation of the rule of law. Atiku insisted that defying court orders granting bail constitutes an abuse of power and assault on justice.
Kanu faces a seven-count charge of alleged terrorism and has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in Kenya and extradition to Nigeria in June 2021.
In September, the Federal High Court, Abuja, dismissed Kanu’s no-case submission. Justice James Omotosho ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him, requiring Kanu to enter his defence. The judge cited evidence and exhibits that raised serious allegations of Kanu’s involvement in terrorist activities.
On Thursday, a medical team led by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) confirmed that Kanu’s reported ailment is not life-threatening and declared him fit to stand trial. The panel’s report, submitted to the court on 13 October, convinced Justice Omotosho that the defendant could proceed.
Justice Omotosho granted Kanu six consecutive days, from 23 October, to open and close his defence. He also approved an oral application by Kanu’s lawyer, SAN Kanu Agabi, allowing private consultations between the defendant and his legal team within the courtroom on 22 October, to prevent possible monitoring by the DSS.