BREAKING: Abuja Court Dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s No-Case Submission, Orders IPOB Leader to Open Defence

Earlier on Friday, SaharaReporters reported that the detained IPOB leader had arrived at the Federal High Court in Abuja for the final ruling on his application. Kanu was brought to court under heavy security by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), accompanied by his legal team led by former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister for Justice, Kanu G. Agabi (SAN).

Monday’s reports had indicated that the court had moved up the hearing date to Friday, September 26, 2025, ahead of the initially scheduled October 10 date for ruling on the no-case submission.

The main terrorism trial against Nnamdi Kanu was scheduled to resume on October 10, 2025. Kanu’s legal team filed the no-case submission after the Federal Government completed its case, arguing that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to warrant a defence.

Earlier in September, the Federal High Court in Abuja had also adjourned an application filed by Kanu’s lawyers requesting that he be transferred to the National Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Justice Musa Liman adjourned the matter as his tenure as a vacation judge ended the same day the Federal High Court judges’ vacation concluded.

Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, had filed a 14-paragraph affidavit stating that the IPOB leader suffered from a life-threatening heart condition and that the medical facilities he had access to were inadequate for proper treatment.

During one of the hearings, Uchenna Njoku, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, informed the court that the Federal Government’s lawyers had served a 37-page counter-affidavit on the morning of the proceedings, leaving him insufficient time to review it. Njoku requested additional time to study the document before the case could continue.

With the judges’ vacation ending, Justice Liman’s jurisdiction as a vacation judge also lapsed, further complicating the hearing process.

Lead counsel for the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo, agreed with Njoku that it was unfortunate the matter had not been scheduled earlier but noted that his team was ready to address it at any time. Awomolo reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to seeing the case through, emphasizing that all procedures had been followed lawfully.

In his final remarks on the health-related application, Justice Liman expressed concern over whether he could rule on the matter as a vacation judge, given the limited time remaining. He stated that he had agreed to hear the case due to its urgency and its serious health implications, which could be a matter of life and death for the IPOB leader.

Justice Liman then directed that the case be returned to the Central Registrar for transfer to Justice James Omotosho, who is now presiding over Kanu’s ongoing trial.

The Federal High Court’s decision to dismiss the no-case submission represents a significant development in the long-running legal battle between the Federal Government and Nnamdi Kanu. It also signals that the IPOB leader will now have to open his defence, potentially prolonging the already protracted trial.

Legal analysts have noted that while the no-case submission is a common tactic in high-profile cases, its dismissal often indicates that the court believes there is enough evidence to proceed with a full trial.

Following Justice Omotosho’s ruling, Nnamdi Kanu will now be required to present his defence in court. The timeline for this process has yet to be confirmed, but legal observers expect the case to draw renewed attention as it proceeds.

The IPOB leader remains in DSS custody pending the continuation of his trial. His legal team has yet to issue a formal statement on the ruling but is expected to outline their next steps in the coming days.

The dismissal of Nnamdi Kanu’s no-case submission by the Federal High Court in Abuja marks a critical point in his ongoing trial. With the IPOB leader now ordered to open his defence, all eyes will be on the Federal High Court as one of Nigeria’s most closely watched legal cases continues to unfold.

This ruling not only has implications for the IPOB leader’s future but also for Nigeria’s legal and political landscape, as it underscores the judiciary’s role in balancing national security concerns with individual rights.