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The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resumed on Friday with an unexpected apology from the legal team representing the defendant.
After all appearances were acknowledged, Kanu’s lead attorney, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), spoke to the Federal High Court in Abuja, offering an apology on his client’s behalf.
Agabi conceded that Kanu had been frustrated for an extended period and recognized that his previous comments, especially those directed at Justice Binta Nyako, were unwarranted.
He also extended apologies to the prosecution team headed by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), as well as to his own legal team, whom Kanu had earlier criticized.
“He is a good man, but we all have different viewpoints. There should be room for mistakes, and we ought to aim to support rather than harm,” Agabi urged.
In reply, the prosecution accepted the apology, with Awomolo acknowledging the emotions and stress surrounding the case. He assured the court of his team’s dedication to ensuring a swift trial.
The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, also commented, observing that the lengthy legal struggle, which commenced in 2015, had certainly impacted Kanu.
“When he was initially arraigned, he was 47. Now, he is 57 and remains uncertain about his future. This may have prompted him to make some regrettable statements,” Omotosho remarked, while also offering an apology on behalf of Kanu to the prosecution.
Subsequently, the seven-count charge against Kanu was presented, to which he pleaded not guilty. The prosecution confirmed its preparedness to continue with the trial, a stance the defense team did not contest.
Recognizing the lengthy nature of the case, Justice Omotosho granted an accelerated hearing. The trial was postponed to April 29, May 2, and May 6 for substantial proceedings.
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, had communicated in a letter dated March 4, 2025, to Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, regarding the re-assignment of the case from Justice Nyako to Justice Omotosho.
This re-assignment occurred after Kanu and his legal representatives demanded that the seven-count terrorism charge be transferred to another judge due to allegations of bias.
Justice Nyako, on September 24, 2024, recused herself from the case and forwarded the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment. She stated that she could not continue with a trial in which a defendant lacked faith in the judiciary.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who has been elevated to the Appeal Court and Justice Tsoho (prior to becoming the CJ), had presided over Kanu’s trial before it was given to Justice Nyako, following the defendant’s refusal of the two judges. In contrast to the prior proceedings, Kanu was composed throughout the re-arraignment on Friday.
