The Federal Government on Friday, 21st March 2025 has re-arraigned Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in the Federal High Court in Abuja on amended terrorism charges.
Kanu, appearing before Justice James Omotosho, pleaded not guilty to seven counts related to his activities.
This re-arraignment followed a message delivered by his new counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, a former Attorney-General of the Federation, in which Kanu expressed regret for his past behavior towards the court and his legal team.
Kanu’s legal troubles began when he was brought back to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021 and faced an initial set of 15 charges. However, in April 2022, eight of those charges were struck out, and on October 13, 2025, the Court of Appeal quashed the remaining seven counts.
The Federal Government responded by appealing to the Supreme Court, which upheld their appeal on December 15, 2023, ruling that Kanu must face trial for the seven counts.
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During this latest hearing, Justice Omotosho revised the counts, and Kanu pleaded not guilty to what was now counts one through seven.
The prosecutor, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, stated his readiness to proceed with the trial and requested a date for witnesses to be assembled, which the court granted, scheduling the trial for late April and early May.
The charges against Kanu include issuing threats through broadcasts that incited public unrest, directly impacting the business activities and daily lives in the southeast of Nigeria.
The government accuses him of urging IPOB members to manufacture bombs and allegedly importing a radio transmitter for unlawful purposes. Throughout the proceedings, Kanu remained composed, dressed casually in sportswear.
