The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the latest bail application filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, describing the request as “highly unmeritorious” and contrary to statutory provisions guiding criminal trials in Nigeria.
Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho held that the court lacked the power to entertain what amounted to a stay of proceedings in a criminal matter, citing Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which expressly prohibits such applications.
The judge ruled that Kanu’s request did not fall into any of the recognised categories of bail — bail pending trial or bail pending appeal — especially since the IPOB leader had already entered a defence.
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Justice Omotosho recalled that on October 27, 2025, the court ordered all parties to file their final written addresses after Kanu failed to open his defence within the allotted six days. He noted that the defence team eventually filed a motion along with a comprehensive address, which the court interpreted as their final address.
“In view of the statutory prohibition and the stage of the proceedings, the relief sought is without merit and is hereby dismissed,” the judge ruled, adding that all issues raised in the motion would be resolved in the final judgment.
Before the ruling was delivered, Kanu personally addressed the court, insisting that no judgment could be given because, according to him, the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to try him ab initio.
The court had earlier fixed Thursday, November 20, for final judgment in the terrorism charges after holding that Kanu failed to open his defence within the stipulated timeframe.
Kanu had filed a motion asking the court to nullify the charges, arguing that the repeal of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act invalidated the prosecution’s case. He urged the court to strike out the suit, expunge the “purported plea of not guilty entered for him,” and order his release, insisting that the charges disclosed no offence known to law.
Meanwhile, Kanu has filed a fresh suit at the Court of Appeal seeking to halt today’s judgment, but the appellate court has yet to assign a date for hearing and has issued no interim order.
In Abia State, security has been tightened as authorities move to forestall any breach of peace ahead of the anticipated judgment involving the separatist leader.
