The Federal Government has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss the no-case submission filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and compel him to face trial on terrorism charges.
At Friday’s hearing, government counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) argued that Kanu’s public broadcasts calling for Nigeria’s breakup and the creation of a Biafran republic posed a serious threat to national security. He told the court that Kanu’s statements incited fear and allegedly led to attacks on security personnel.
Awomolo maintained that the defendant publicly identified as IPOB’s leader, despite the group being proscribed, and that his comments went beyond political expression.
However, Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the charges, stating that the prosecution failed to provide evidence linking his client to any act of violence. He said the DSS officers who testified only obtained Kanu’s statements and no investigation report was submitted.
Agabi added that none of the witnesses claimed to have been incited by Kanu’s remarks, and argued that his client’s statements amounted to self-defence and constitutionally protected speech.
Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter to October 10 for ruling on whether Kanu has a case to answer.
