The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been adjourned indefinitely by the Federal High Court of Abuja.
Kanu requested that Justice Binta adjourned the trial pending the outcome of the Federal Government’s appeal against the October 13 Court of Appeal ruling that cleared him of the terrorism charges.
The Supreme Court is hearing the Federal Government’s appeal, which asks them to reverse the Court of Appeal ruling.
For the same reason, two further cases that were scheduled for court hearings were also postponed indefinitely.
Kanu declined to show up on Monday in front of the Federal High Court. Justice Nyako was informed of the unwillingness to respect the high court by Mohammed Abubakar, attorney for the Federal Government. He told the court that Kanu had rejected all attempts to sway him to modify his mind.
As the director of a United Kingdom-registered radio station named Radio Biafra, Kanu propagated Biafran separatism. Kanu was arrested on treason charges in Lagos, Nigeria on October 14, 2015 and was detained for more than a year, despite various court orders that ruled for his release.
When in court, Kanu appeared regularly wearing a Jewish prayer shawl and head covering. He said in court, that he “believes in Judaism” and considers himself a Jew and oftentimes has led his Biafran people to various Jewish prayers and religious observations.
On April 28, 2017, Kanu was released from prison on bail. After jumping bail and fleeing abroad, Kanu played a major part in the insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria, as the Nigerian security forces attempted to quash IPOB’s armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, resulting in a low-level conflict in early 2021.
Despite the fighting, Kanu maintained that IPOB was interested in a peaceful solution and achieving Biafran independence without violence. In June 2021, he was arrested by Interpol and handed over to Nigeria.
