A Federal High Court in Abuja has foxed judgment for November 20 in the terrorism trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Justice James Omotosho fixed the date on Friday, during his ruling after Kanu refused to open his defence after having exhausted the six days allocated to him by the court to conduct his defence.

“This court has given opportunity to the defendant under Section 36 as required by the constitution, and I will not allow this to continue.
“It is based on this, without hesitation, that I say that the defendant has waived his right,”Justice Omotosho ruled.

The judge held that since Kanu failed to utilise the opportunity granted to him to conduct his defence, he could not claim to have been denied his constitutionally guaranteed right to a fair hearing.

Earlier on Friday, the court had granted Kanu one hour to file documents he claimed were necessary for his defence. 

The decision came after the judge had, on Wednesday, given the IPOB leader a final chance to open his defence—an opportunity he has repeatedly declined in recent months.

Meanwhile, Kanu on Friday made a motion challenging his trial on the grounds that terrorism was no longer an offence in Nigeria.

He said the earlier Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act had been repealed, and as such no valid charges against him.

Kanu maintained that there was no case against him and urged the court to dismiss the charges and allow him to go home.

The Federal government has been prosecuting Kanu on 17-count terrorism-related charges since 2015, following his alleged involvement in violent secessionist activities advocating for the independence of the South-East region.