*Judge Gives IPOB Leader ‘Last Chance’ 7 Nov To Enter Defence Or Case Forecloses
Activist and muck raking newspaper publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has made a huge allegation that there is a plot by unnamed officials in the President Bola Tinubu administration and the judiciary to sentence detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is undergoing terrorism trial, to death or life imprisonment.
The allegation, published prominently in Sahara Reporters of today, Wednesday, 5 November, 2025, came on a day that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court,Abuja, who is presiding over the IPOB leader’s trial, gave him a “last chance” till 7 November, 2025, to open his defence and file his final written address in the case against him.
But, Kanu, who is defending himself, having dismissed his legal team, for the fifth time in court insisted today that the charge against him does not presently exist in Nigeria’s law books,saying the law has been “repealed and non-existent.”
The story on allegations to sentence him to death or life imprisonment, which is in Sahara Reporters, runs thus:”Former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has stated that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has reached a high-level secret pact with the judiciary to either sentence Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to death or life imprisonment.
“Sowore, in a post on Wednesday, said that the decision had already been made through a top-level political conspiracy and that the ongoing legal proceedings were merely a formality to legitimise the outcome.
“For the avoidance of doubt and to alert the public, it has become clear that a secret decision has long been reached within the Tinubu regime regarding the fate of Nnamdi Kanu. The plan, devised through a high-level political conspiracy, is to either sentence him to death or condemn him to life imprisonment. This outcome, predetermined far in advance, is now being dressed up in the guise of judicial procedure,” Sowore said.
“He added that the move was being dressed up in the guise of judicial procedure, suggesting that Justice Omotosho, who is handling Kanu’s case, may interpret Kanu’s refusal to open his defence as an admission of guilt.
‘ “Justice Omotosho is expected to conclude Kanu’s trial by declaring that his refusal to open his defence amounts to an admission of guilt —.a convenient interpretation designed to seal a verdict already agreed upon behind closed doors.”
“According to Sowore, such an interpretation would conveniently justify a verdict that had already been agreed upon behind closed doors.
‘ “The ruling is anticipated in November, a month that bears a haunting historical echo.”
“The activist warned that the anticipated ruling—expected in November—could mirror one of the darkest moments in Nigeria’s history.
“Drawing a parallel to the 1995 execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists under the military regime of General Sani Abacha, Sowore described the situation as a haunting historical echo.
‘ “It was in November 1995 that the military tribunal of General Sani Abacha sentenced Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists to death—a sentence carried out with ruthless precision.
‘ “Today, three decades later, Nigeria appears to be standing at the same moral crossroads. Only the year has changed—this is 2025, not 1995—but the machinery of repression grinds on. The trial of Nnamdi Kanu has ceased to be about justice; it is now a test of conscience for the Nigerian state and its citizens alike,” he said.
” Sowore added that Kanu’s trial had ceased to be about justice and had instead become a test of conscience for the Nigerian state and its citizens alike.
” SaharaReporters previously reported that Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja gave Kanu until Wednesday November 5 to open his defence in the terrorism case against him or forfeit his right to do so.
“The judge issued the directive after Kanu, for the fourth consecutive day, insisted he would not begin his defence following the prosecution’s closure of its case and the court’s earlier dismissal of his no-case submission.
“Justice Omotosho thereafter warned that if Kanu does not open his defence on Wednesday November 5, he would be considered to have voluntarily waived his right.
“The court had earlier, on October 27, adjourned to November 4 for Kanu to either file his final written address or proceed with his defence.
“At Tuesday’s sitting, Kanu, who is representing himself, informed the court that he had not filed any final written address as instructed but had instead submitted a motion and a supporting affidavit.
“He insisted that he would not present any defence, stating that there was no valid or existing charge against him under any known law.
“Kanu also declared that he would not return to detention, demanding his immediate release and freedom, as he maintained that there was no lawful basis for his continued trial.
“In his ruling, Justice Omotosho held that Kanu’s recent filings were properly submitted and would be evaluated during judgment.
“Acknowledging that Kanu is not a lawyer, the judge said he should be allowed time to seek legal advice and obtain necessary assistance.
“Justice Omotosho then adjourned the case to November 5 for Kanu to either open his defence or be deemed to have forfeited his right to do so.”
Open Your Defence 7 Nov Or Your Case Forecloses -Judge Warns Kanu
At today’s sitting, Justice Omotosho declared that the adjournment to 7 November is the last for Kanu to enter his defence and file his final address.
He said: “We had adjourned till today for the defendant to put in his defence or be deemed closed. But, I am bound to give him another opportunity to put in his defence.
“If he does not, I will deem him closed. I know that he is an economist and not a lawyer. I will give the last opportunity to the defendant to put in his defence, failure which he would be deemed closed.”
However, Kanu, who was docked, insisted on his earlier stance that there exists “no valid charge” against him as to compel his defence.
To him, terrorism charge does not exist under the framework of the country’s body of statutes,saying it is a “repealed and non-existent law.”
According to the IPOB leader, the Supreme Court had on the day it okayed his trial, directed that the charge against him be amended.
He said the apex court based its decision on the fact that the charge was legally defective.
Kanu said in disobedience to Supreme Court’s directive, FG still docked him on the same charge without effecting the necessary amendments.
Prosecuting counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN, had urged the court to deliver judgment, tracing the courtroom journey since the first day Kanu opted publicly to defend himself as well as the six days granted by the court to the defendant to file his written address which,he noted, had not been complied with.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Kanu.
