Alarm Over Kanu Trial Grows

Fresh concern has risen around the trial of Nnamdi Kanu as his defence team accused the Federal High Court in Abuja of moving away from proper legal procedure.

The team said the case has taken a troubling path that could affect not only their client but the justice system as a whole.

The defence outlined who is involved, pointing to the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Global Defence Consortium, which released a detailed statement through Barrister Onyedikachi Ifedi. They argued that the court is still prosecuting Kanu under the 2013 terrorism law, even though it was replaced by the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act in 2022. They said the old law no longer exists and should not guide any trial.

The team explained what they believe is wrong, noting that the court has not allowed objections on jurisdiction and constitutionality. They described these issues as the foundation of any criminal case and said the refusal to hear them breaks long-standing legal standards. They warned that this approach creates doubt over the fairness of the proceedings.

The lawyers pointed to where the trouble lies, accusing the court of following a pattern that could produce an unfair outcome. They claimed the judge is pressing ahead with charges under the old law but may rely on the new 2022 law to justify the verdict later. They described this as a move that could distort justice and leave the case open to future dispute.

They also explained when the process began to derail, saying the turning point came when the court blocked their attempt to file a final written address. They said this stage is the last chance for a defendant to lay out full arguments before judgment, and removing it undermines the right to fair hearing.

They warned why Nigerians should care, arguing that the alleged actions in this case could set a dangerous pattern. They said any court that relies on a repealed law, shuts down objections, and denies a final address creates a risk that could affect anyone brought before it in the future.

The defence ended by stating how they plan to respond. They called on the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society, human rights groups, the media, and international observers to monitor the case closely. They vowed to continue lawful advocacy and to challenge anything that threatens the integrity of the trial, saying justice must be real and not a staged process.