Court Grants Kanu Fresh Shot at Defence

A top Nigerian court has allowed the head of a separatist group another go at putting forward his side in a major security case. Nnamdi Kanu, boss of the Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB, got the nod from judges in Abuja after his team argued for more time to gather proof.

The ruling came on Friday during a session on charges of stirring unrest and breaking bail rules. Kanu’s lawyers said they needed extra weeks to line up witnesses and sort files, as the trial has dragged on since 2021. The court agreed, setting the next hearing for late November and telling the defence to wrap up by then.

Kanu has denied the claims and called the whole thing unfair. His group pushes for an independent state in the south-east, a goal that has sparked clashes with police. The government says IPOB’s actions threaten peace and has branded it a terror outfit.

This latest move gives Kanu a key chance to fight back, after past bids to drop the case failed. Supporters hope it leads to his freedom, while officials stand firm on the charges.