Explosive Courtroom Drama: FG Claims Kanu Ordered Killing Of Policemen – Over 170 Dead
In one of Nigeria’s most polarizing and politically sensitive trials, the Federal Government has doubled down on its position: Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), must face justice for alleged acts of terrorism. This decision, unfolding within the walls of the Federal High Court in Abuja, is more than a legal tussle — it is a flashpoint in Nigeria’s ongoing battle with separatist tensions, free speech boundaries, and national security concerns.
Who Is Nnamdi Kanu — And Why Is He on Trial?
To grasp the gravity of this trial, one must understand who Nnamdi Kanu is and the movement he represents.
Kanu rose to prominence as the voice behind Radio Biafra, a controversial platform used to call for the secession of southeastern Nigeria and the rebirth of the former Republic of Biafra — a short-lived, war-ravaged state that existed from 1967 to 1970. IPOB, the movement he leads, has been classified as a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government since 2017, though this label remains contested both locally and internationally.
Kanu was first arrested in 2015, granted bail in 2017, and fled Nigeria under dramatic circumstances. He was re-arrested in 2021 under opaque circumstances involving international security agencies and returned to face charges. Since then, he’s remained in detention, mostly in solitary confinement.
The Government’s Case: A Threat to National Unity?
On Friday, the Federal Government, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adegboyega Awomolo, argued that the court should reject Kanu’s “no-case” submission — a legal move typically used to request acquittal before defense testimony begins.
Awomolo did not mince words. He alleged that Kanu, through broadcasts on Radio Biafra, issued direct threats to Nigeria’s unity and security, including incitements to violence against police officers. According to the prosecution, over 170 security personnel were killed in the aftermath of Kanu’s inflammatory rhetoric. Awomolo contended that Kanu’s calls for Biafra were not merely political expressions, but calculated, dangerous provocations with real-world consequences.
In his view, the legal bar for a terrorism charge had been met — and to allow Kanu to walk without defending himself would be a dangerous precedent.
The Defense Fires Back: Is Kanu a Scapegoat?
Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), mounted a robust counter-argument, painting a very different picture. He argued that the prosecution’s case is built on weak foundations — no witness, he claimed, had directly testified that Kanu’s statements led them to violence. Even the Department of State Services (DSS) witnesses admitted they merely obtained Kanu’s statements but did not investigate them further or provide conclusive proof of their alleged impact.
Agabi also drew attention to the repeated amendments to the charges — now at eight iterations — as evidence of prosecutorial uncertainty. He suggested that Kanu’s “bring the world down” rhetoric was political grandstanding, not a call to arms. Importantly, Agabi invoked the Nigerian Constitution and cited retired General T.Y. Danjuma’s own call for self-defense as proof that Kanu’s language was not unprecedented or illegal.
On a humanitarian note, Agabi criticized the prolonged solitary confinement Kanu has endured — reportedly for over 10 years — highlighting that even international law caps such confinement at 15 days due to its severe psychological toll.
What’s Really at Stake?
This case is not just about one man’s freedom — it’s a litmus test for Nigeria’s democracy, legal independence, and approach to dissent. It raises essential questions:
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When does free speech cross into incitement?
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Can calls for self-determination coexist with national unity?
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Has the state done enough to address the underlying grievances that fuel separatist ideologies?
For many Nigerians, especially in the southeast, this trial is a painful reminder of marginalization and unresolved wounds from the Biafran War. For others, especially in security and governance circles, Kanu’s rhetoric symbolizes a growing threat that must be met with firm state power.
What Happens Next?
Justice James Omotosho has adjourned the ruling on Kanu’s no-case submission to October 10. Until then, Nigeria watches — with tension, hope, and skepticism — to see whether the courtroom will become a place of justice or a theatre of political punishment.
Whatever the outcome, the Kanu trial is a defining chapter in Nigeria’s democratic journey. It forces the nation to ask: can justice be both firm and fair in the face of deep division?
