ABUJA, Nigeria — The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was adjourned on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, by the Federal High Court in Abuja following heated disagreements between the defence and prosecution over the admissibility and completeness of a video-recorded statement allegedly made by Kanu while in custody, and concerns over delayed service of key documents.
Kanu is facing a seven-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism, filed by the federal government.
The prosecution team, led by senior advocate Adegboyega Awomolo, tendered several documents during the hearing, including a police report, a medical report, and the death certificate of Ahmed Gulak, former political adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. Gulak was killed in 2021 by gunmen suspected to be IPOB members.
However, during cross-examination, Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), questioned the credibility of a video statement recorded during Kanu’s detention by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Agabi pointed out that the footage only showed the defendant and his legal team, raising concerns about the transparency of the recording process.
In response, the prosecution witness stated that the format used was standard procedure and claimed he could not recall whether he was masked during the interview, which the defence had suggested might compromise identification and accountability.
Agabi further pressed the witness on the prolonged detention of Kanu, which the defence says amounts to solitary confinement.
The witness, however, said he was only an investigator and not involved in the defendant’s custody or welfare.
“Solitary confinement is not a practice of the DSS. I am not his handler,” he said.
The defence also argued that they had not been served with the documents the prosecution presented in court, prompting a request for an adjournment.
Awomolo opposed the application, urging the court to compel the defence to proceed with the cross-examination to avoid trial delays, noting that five additional prosecution witnesses are scheduled to testify.
In his ruling, Justice James Omotosho acknowledged the importance of a fair trial and the need to ensure proper service of documents, despite the requirement for such cases to proceed on a day-to-day basis.
He therefore granted the adjournment to allow the defence time to review the materials.
Meanwhile, Agabi addressed media reports suggesting the DSS had denied him access to Kanu.
He clarified that he had arrived at the DSS facility earlier than the agreed visitation time and was not prevented from seeing his client.
The court also addressed a social media post by a member of the defence team, Aloy Ejimakor, who had alleged that the DSS blocked Agabi from accessing Kanu.
Justice Omotosho reprimanded Ejimakor for the misleading post, after which the lawyer admitted he had misinterpreted Agabi’s comments and tone.
The trial is now scheduled to resume on May 21, when cross-examination is expected to continue.
