Tension ran high at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday as proceedings in the case of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), took an unexpected turn. Kanu, who has been in detention since his controversial re-arrest and extradition from Kenya in 2021, dismissed his entire legal team and declared his intention to represent himself. The dramatic announcement came just before the hearing commenced before Justice James Omotosho, sending a wave of surprise through the courtroom.
Kanu informed the court that he had relieved his lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), and the rest of his legal representatives of their duties. He said he would personally conduct his defence. The separatist leader further questioned the legitimacy of the trial, arguing that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter. In a fiery address to the judge, Kanu cited a ruling by the Court of Appeal in 2022, which he said had discharged and acquitted him of all charges and ordered his release. He insisted that the continued prosecution violated that appellate decision, describing his detention as unlawful and politically motivated. “The Court of Appeal ordered my release, and yet I am still here,” Kanu said. “This court has no jurisdiction to try me. The entire process is null and void.”
He also accused the prosecution of submitting a forged medical report that claimed he was fit to stand trial, alleging that the document had been altered to justify proceeding with the case despite his deteriorating health. “I have been denied access to proper medical care. The report they presented to the court is not genuine,” he told Justice Omotosho, calling for an independent medical examination to ascertain his true condition.
The prosecution, represented by the Federal Government’s legal team, firmly opposed Kanu’s assertions. They maintained that the Supreme Court had already overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision in December 2023, effectively reinstating the charges against him. According to the prosecution, the apex court had ruled that Kanu’s extradition, while irregular, did not absolve him of the criminal allegations, including treasonable felony and incitement of violence, for which he is standing trial.
Justice Omotosho noted Kanu’s decision to dismiss his lawyers and represent himself, and subsequently adjourned to allow him to properly prepare for the next hearing. The judge also instructed court officials to ensure that Kanu was granted access to any materials he might need to mount his defence.
However, the courtroom drama did not end there. Shortly after the proceedings, commotion erupted outside the courthouse as activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore was arrested by police officers. Sowore, who had attended the hearing in solidarity with Kanu, was reportedly taken into custody for allegedly leading a group of protesters into a restricted area of the court premises in violation of an existing order prohibiting demonstrations within the vicinity.
Eyewitnesses said Sowore, flanked by supporters, had been addressing journalists when police operatives surrounded him and whisked him away in a waiting van. Videos circulated online showing a brief struggle before the activist was led off by officers, sparking outrage among his followers.
Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin later confirmed the arrest, stating that Sowore was detained for breaching public order and violating a directive aimed at maintaining security and decorum around the court. “Mr Omoyele Sowore was taken into custody for leading an unlawful gathering in a restricted zone,” Hundeyin said. “Investigations are ongoing, and he will be charged accordingly once due process has been completed.”
Sowore, a well-known rights activist and founder of Sahara Reporters, has faced several arrests in the past over his political activities and protests against government policies. His latest arrest drew criticism from human rights groups, who described it as a worrying sign of shrinking civic space in Nigeria.
The simultaneous developments involving both Kanu and Sowore underscored the tense atmosphere surrounding high-profile political trials in Nigeria. Kanu’s case remains one of the most polarising in recent years, symbolising both the enduring grievances of separatist movements and the government’s uncompromising approach to national unity and state security.
As the court adjourned to a later date, questions lingered over the implications of Kanu’s decision to act as his own counsel and whether it might further delay proceedings that have already stretched for years. Meanwhile, Sowore’s arrest outside the same court reinforced concerns about the government’s tolerance for dissent and the fine line between maintaining order and suppressing civil liberties.
For now, Abuja’s Federal High Court has once again become the focal point of two intertwined struggles — one for justice and self-determination, and another for freedom of expression in a country still grappling with the balance between security, law, and democracy.
