Nnamdi Kanu, the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to halt his trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja, which is being presided over by Justice James Omotosho. According to court documents Kanu submitted, he is requesting an order to prevent Justice Omotosho from rendering a decision on November 20, 2025, while his appeal against the high court's rulings in the matter is heard and decided, Channels reported.
Kanu said that the trial court declined to make a decision on jurisdictional issues that were brought before the Federal High Court.
He additionally argued that the court failed to assess the prosecution's evidence in light of cross-examination questions, which he claimed undermined certain testimony.
He criticized the trial court's handling of the no-case submission, its inability to decide jurisdiction, the veracity of the accusations against him, and the court's failure to allow him to call witnesses in his defense.
Kanu clarified that even though he had submitted a list of defense witnesses, the court refused to let them testify, noting that choices on objections would only be discussed at the time of judgment.
"The trial court denied me the opportunity to refute the horrible accusations made against me while declining to rule on the objection. The trial court has postponed the case until November 20, 2025, Kanu said.
He cautioned that failing to grant his motion may result in an illegal conviction, depriving him of the opportunity to question the legality of the allegations, argue the court’s jurisdiction, and provide a defence on the merits.
He pointed out that "further proceedings on the matter will stultify the appellant's right of appeal and any appellate decision [become] fait accompli."
Given that the matter started in 2015 and was just brought back before the current court in 2025, Kanu said, granting the stay would not harm either the trial court or the appellant.
He pleaded with the appellate court to give the case due consideration on its merits.
After Kanu failed to present his defense within the six days allotted by the court, Justice Omotosho set November 20 as the date for the verdict in his terrorist trial.
The judge insisted that Kanu could not complain that his constitutionally mandated right to a fair hearing had been denied since he had not used the opportunity to present his defense.