Written by Ella Michaels
The Federal High Court in Abuja has set a new date for the determination of the no-case submission filed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). According to Kanu's lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, the court has slated Friday, September 26, 2025, for the ruling. This development comes after the court's initial scheduling of October 10 for the ruling, which has now been brought forward by two weeks.
Kanu's legal team filed a no-case submission, arguing that the federal government has failed to establish a prima facie case against him. The IPOB leader faces terrorism-related charges filed by the federal government, which accuses him of inciting violence and spearheading unlawful agitation for the creation of an independent Biafra.
The court's decision on September 26 will be a defining moment in Nigeria's judicial and political landscape. If the court upholds Kanu's no-case submission, he could be discharged and acquitted, ending years of prolonged legal battles. However, if the submission is dismissed, the court would order Kanu to enter his defense, potentially extending the already drawn-out trial.
Nnamdi Kanu has been facing trial since 2015, with the federal government accusing him of treasonable felony and other offenses related to his agitation for Biafra's independence. Kanu was rearrested in 2021 through a controversial international operation and has been in detention since then.
The outcome of the court's ruling on September 26 will have significant implications for Kanu's future and the broader separatist movement in Nigeria. If Kanu is acquitted, it could be seen as a victory for his supporters and a setback for the federal government's efforts to prosecute him. On the other hand, if the court orders Kanu to enter his defense, it could prolong the trial and keep Kanu in detention for an extended period.
