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FG kicks as Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer claims his threats were mere boast
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The Federal Government has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to reject a no-case submission filed by the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and compel him to enter his defence in the ongoing terrorism trial.
At the hearing on Friday, July 18, prosecuting counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) argued that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence, including witness testimonies and video materials, to support the charges against Kanu. He urged Justice James Omotosho to disregard the defence’s attempt to discredit the evidence at this stage.
Awomolo told the court, “Why will somebody say a terrorist, who boasted that security men and other people should be killed, should be allowed to go free?”
He insisted that the law forbids statements that can instill fear in the public, adding that Kanu’s actions and statements went beyond mere boasting. “When a person is boasting and threatening death and violence, that cannot be said to be mere boasting,” he said.
The prosecution maintains that Kanu, in several audio and video broadcasts tendered in court, admitted to leading IPOB, a group that was officially proscribed. In those broadcasts, Awomolo said, Kanu allegedly incited violence and destruction, actions that reportedly led to the death of no fewer than 170 security personnel.
Awomolo continued, “If the defendant believes that he was merely joking and was a content creator, he should be made to answer why he was boasting and creating fear in the minds of the people.”
He also challenged the defence’s claim that Kanu had been in solitary confinement for 10 years, clarifying that the IPOB leader was first arrested in 2015 and granted bail in 2017, which was later revoked in 2021 after he jumped bail. “The current detention of the defendant is upon an order of the court,” he said.
Awomolo further blamed the defence for delays in the trial. “Their claim that this case has lasted for 10 years is not true. They are the cause of the delay,” he asserted.
On the issue of IPOB’s proscription, the prosecution argued that the legality of the group’s status is already before the Supreme Court, and the trial court should not interfere.
In response, Kanu’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), contended that the prosecution had failed to prove any element of the charges. He maintained that none of Kanu’s broadcasts directly incited violence, and no witness testified to being influenced by the defendant’s words.
“This man (Kanu) can boast. He was just boasting. He said I can bring the world to a standstill. I don’t see anything wrong with that. You don’t prosecute a man for mere boasting,” Agabi said.
He added that Kanu’s broadcasts merely called on people to defend themselves, a position shared by some government officials. “What the defendant said was that the people should defend themselves,” he said.
Agabi criticised the evidence presented by the prosecution, including an #EndSARS report, which he said was unauthenticated. He also challenged the reliability of prosecution witnesses, saying many frequently responded with “I don’t remember” or “I don’t know” during cross-examination.
“He (the defendant) is no longer normal on account of his solitary confinement. The case has been pending for 10 years. Memories have been lost, which is why most of the prosecution witnesses were saying they can’t remember,” Agabi told the court.
He argued that the statements attributed to Kanu were not investigated and that all prosecution witnesses came from the Department of State Services (DSS). “That is why they kept saying I can’t remember, I am not aware, because they did nothing,” he said.
Agabi also challenged the legality of IPOB’s proscription, claiming that there was no evidence of presidential approval. “We are saying there is no proscription, because there is no presidential approval; if they have it, they should bring it,” he insisted.
On the charge regarding the alleged unlawful importation of a transmitter, Agabi said the Court of Appeal had ruled the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the matter.
Following the arguments, Justice Omotosho adjourned the case to October 10, 2025, for a ruling on whether to uphold the no-case submission or compel Kanu to enter his defence.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has urged eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the remaining days of the Continuous Voter Registration, warning that the registration window will close on Sunday, July 26, 2026.
In a public notice issued on its X handle on Saturday, the electoral body reminded prospective voters that they could complete their registration online from start to finish through its dedicated CVR portal or visit designated registration centres nationwide for physical assistance.
“Your future won’t wait. Neither should you. The Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise ends Sunday, 26 July 2026,” the commission said.
INEC encouraged Nigerians who require assistance to visit any of its state offices, local government area offices, or designated registration centres to complete the process in person.
The commission also stated that all registration centres would remain open daily, including weekends, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. until the exercise ends.
“You can complete your voter registration online from start to finish via http://cvr.inecnigeria.org. If you need assistance, visit any INEC State Office, LGA Office, or designated registration centre to complete your registration in person,” the commission added.
The CVR exercise is part of INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections. It enables eligible Nigerians and those seeking to update their voter information to be included in the national register of voters.
Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has questioned why no government official has visited Boko Haram terrorists and bandits to negotiate an end to their violence, the way past leaders engaged Niger Delta militants.
He made the comparison in a Facebook post on Saturday, recalling how former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo both visited militants in the creeks to broker peace.
Gumi noted that both leaders, at different times, went into the creeks to meet militants and returned with programmes designed to end militancy in the region.
“The former President Jonathan visited Delta militants in the creeks, so also the former Vice President Osinbajo. They all came up with a program to tame the militants,” he wrote.
The cleric then asked who would extend similar engagement to Boko Haram and bandits terrorising parts of northern Nigeria without facing public backlash.
“Who is going to visit BH and Bandits to tame them without fools castigating them?” he asked.
Gumi has for years positioned himself as an advocate for dialogue with armed groups in the North-West and North-East, repeatedly visiting bandit camps in Zamfara and other states to hear their grievances.
He has consistently argued that negotiation, rather than military force, worked to end militancy in the Niger Delta and should be replicated in the North.
The cleric’s interventions have drawn both support and criticism. While some Nigerians accuse him of legitimising armed groups responsible for kidnapping, killings and cattle rustling, others credit his engagements with securing the release of kidnap victims.
The retired military officer has repeatedly denied backing terrorism, insisting his advocacy is aimed solely at ending the bloodshed through dialogue and rehabilitation.
The Niger Delta amnesty programme, launched in 2009 under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and sustained by Jonathan, saw thousands of militants disarmed in exchange for training, stipends and reintegration support. The programme significantly reduced attacks on oil infrastructure in the region.
Jonathan first waded into the Niger Delta crisis in 2007 as vice-president, entering the creeks without an armed detail to meet ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as _Tompolo_, in Warri, Delta State.
He later said the meeting laid the groundwork for the amnesty programme granted to militants, which remains in place today.
Osinbajo similarly toured Niger Delta communities as acting president in 2017, engaging militants and traditional leaders directly.
He justified the outreach by arguing that those in the creeks were citizens with genuine grievances, not merely security threats.
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Photo news: Gov Fubara performs groundbreaking/ foundation laying ceremony of Riven Medical Industries Project at Rumuosi, Port Harcourt
L-R: Managing Director, Enbay Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Mr Eniye Oweifie; Chairman, Obio-Akpor LGA, Dr Gift Worlu; Director Medical Services/Ag. Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu; Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor, Rivers State, Prof Ngozi Odu, during the groundbreaking/ foundation laying ceremony of the Riven Medical Industries Project at Rumuosi, Port Harcourt last Wednesday.
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