Posted by Samuel on Thu 16th Oct, 2025 - tori.ng
Justice Omotosho, during Kanu’s appearance in court on Thursday, set October 23 for the IPOB leader to commence his defence, while giving him till October 30, 2025, to close his defence.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the case involving detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu to October 23, 2025.
Justice Omotosho, during Kanu’s appearance in court on Thursday, set October 23 for the IPOB leader to commence his defence, while giving him till October 30, 2025, to close his defence.
Kanu’s Special Counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, made this known in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account after the court proceedings.
Ejimakor said, “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case has just been adjourned to 23rd October 2025 for “commencement of his defence”.
The Judge further held … that MNK (Mazi Nnamdi Kanu) has until 30th October to close his defense.”
The court decision comes amid calls for either the immediate and unconditional release of Kanu or the speedy conclusion of his trial.
According to SaharaReporters, it had earlier reported that human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, called on the Nigerian Government to discontinue the ongoing terrorism trial of Kanu, describing it as a “charade” that undermines Nigeria’s justice system.
Sowore, in a post on his X handle on Thursday, said the Federal High Court in Abuja’s sitting represents Nigeria’s best opportunity to “end the so-called terrorism trial once and for all.”
Sowore stated that for years, Kanu had been subjected to a sham trial built on politics, prejudice, and suppression.
He argued that the prolonged proceedings had deepened Nigeria’s crisis of justice and further eroded public confidence in the rule of law.
Sowore urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to file a nolle prosequi, a formal motion to discontinue the trial, insisting that the case should never have been brought in the first place.
He also appealed to Justice Omotosho to make history by standing on the side of truth, fairness, and humanity, by dismissing the charges entirely.
According to him, ending the trial would help restore some dignity to the judiciary and spare President Bola Tinubu’s administration from further embarrassment, while giving Nigeria a chance to move beyond what he called “a disgraceful chapter that has dragged on for far too long.”
The trial of Kanu, who has been in detention since his controversial extraordinary rendition from Kenya in 2021, has been going on with the Nigerian government presenting several witnesses and alleged evidence against him.
Despite several court rulings ordering his release from the custody of the Department of State Services, the Nigerian government disobeyed the court rulings, including the ruling by the Court of Appeal. It has continued Kanu’s detention and trial.