By Charles Pemu 
ABUJA—The Federal High Court in Abuja has set November 20 for the delivery of judgment in the terrorism case brought against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after Kanu’s defense team failed to present its case within the six days allocated by the court, effectively closing the defense.
Court Proceeds After Exhausted Defence Window
Justice Omotosho ruled that since Kanu failed to utilize the ample opportunity granted to him to conduct his defense, he could not later claim that his constitutionally guaranteed right to a fair hearing had been denied.
The decision to proceed to judgment followed the expiration of the time allotted to the defense to present its witnesses and evidence.
Kanu Challenges Trial Validity
Despite the close of the defense’s window, Kanu, on Friday, made a last-minute motion challenging the fundamental validity of his trial. He argued that terrorism was no longer a valid offense in Nigeria because the original Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act under which he was charged had been repealed.
Kanu maintained that there was consequently no subsisting case against him and urged the court to dismiss all charges and order his release.
The court will now deliver its verdict on the terrorism charges and address the validity of Kanu’s challenge regarding the repealed Act on the fixed date.
More detail to come…..