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Court threatens to invoke its powers should Kanu fail to open defence
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A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday threatened to invoke its powers “to make the necessary orders” should the detained self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, fail to use the court-granted opportunity to defend himself.
Justice James Omotosho handed the threat shortly before adjourning further hearing in Kanu’s terrorism trial until October 27.
The IPOB leader, who sacked his lawyers on Thursday, had, while arguing his case himself, made an oral application for adjournment.
At the resumption of proceedings on Friday, prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) told the court that the case was scheduled for defence and that he was ready.
When it was his turn to speak, Kanu said he would be representing himself, and then, told the court that he would not be able to open his defence as earlier planned, because he had not been able to access the case file.
He said his lawyers left him on October 23 and that since then, he had not been given the case file
Kanu said those who were to bring the case file to him in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), where he is being held, were unable to do so.
He prayed the court for an adjournment until Monday, October 27, 2025, to enable him to access the case file and familiarise himself with its contents.
Kanu told the court that he was expecting witnesses from all over the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
He applied for an order that the DSS should allow him access to people even on Saturday and Sunday for the purpose of preparing for his defence.
When asked by the judge if he was aware that Kanu was calling witnesses from outside the country, Awomolo said he did not know where the defendant’s proposed witnesses were coming from, but he knew that Kanu listed a number of people who he planned to call.
Awomolo said the prosecution was only interested in the defendant, bringing his witnesses to court to conduct his defence as ordered by the court.
He urged the court to note that Kanu has expended two, out of the six days allocated to him to open and close his defence, without being able to begin his defence.
Awomolo said: “The court should note that he (Kanu) has six days. He has spent two days, including today. I urge the court to stick with the case schedule earlier announced.”
In his intervention, Justice Omotosho expressed doubt if the leader of Kanu’s former legal team, Kanu Agabi (SAN), would hold on to the defendant’s case file after he announced his withdrawal from the case.
He noted that the defendant did not raise the issue the previous day (Thursday) when Agabi and other senior lawyers in his former legal team were in court.
The judge recalled that when he granted accelerated hearing in the case, none of the parties objected. He said days were accordingly allocated to each side to conduct its case. He added: “I will still stick to those numbers of days.”
Justice Omotosho said that although he did not believe that Agabi would keep the case-file after withdrawing from the case, he would grant the adjournment sought by Kanu in the interest of justice and fair hearing.
The judge said: “The defendant has sought an adjornment till Monday for him to open his defence. The court will grant that request.
“The right under 36 of the Constitution is a sacred right. The right is more than giving opportunity to the defendant. The right is not that the defendant must be compelled to exercise the right.
“Now that the opportunity is not being used, I want to beg the defendant in the name of the Almighty God to utilise this opportunity,” he said.
Justice Omotosho noted that Kanu’s failure to utilise the opportunity was denying other defendants in other cases before his court the opportunity to have their cases heard.
He added: “If the opportunity is not utilised, the court will not hesitate to invoke its powers.
“We should make use of the judicial time given to us. The court will not continue to waste its time.
“At the appropriate time, the court will invoke its powers and make the necessary orders,” the judge said.
Justice Omotosho noted that although Kanu did not provide evidence that the DSS was eavesdropping on his interactions with his lawyers, the court granted his request to meet with his lawyers in the courtroom on October 22.
The judge said he was surprised that the defendant and his legal team did not fully utilise the time allocated to them for that meeting, which was between 9am and 2pm.
He then declared: “Henceforth, this court will not grant such an opportunity again. The claim that the DSS is eavesdropping on his interactions with his lawyers was not supported by evidence.
“The DSS should provide him with opportunities to meet with his counsel. The DSS should give him access to his counsel even on Saturday and Sunday,” the judge said and adjourned until October 27.
The Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri has ordered the remand of a man, Gambo Mohammed, in a correctional facility over an alleged N13.65 million land fraud and money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mohammed was arraigned before Justice Babagana Shettima by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on a four-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, obtaining money under false pretences and criminal misappropriation involving a total sum of N13,650,000.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly collected the money from one Umar Abubakar under the pretext of facilitating the purchase of two plots of land located opposite Maimalari Barracks in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
The EFCC alleged that after receiving the funds, Mohammed diverted the money to his personal use instead of completing the land transaction as agreed.
One of the charges filed against him stated that he fraudulently obtained the sum of N13.65 million from the complainant in 2025, purportedly as payment for two plots of land situated at Dubai Musari Ward, opposite Maimalari Barracks in Jere Local Government Area, knowing the representation to be false.
The charge reads in part: “That you, Gambo Mohammed, (a.k.a Modu Gambo), sometime in 2025, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N13,650,000.00 from one Umar Abubakar, purportedly as purchase price for two plots of land situated at Dubai Musari Ward opposite Maimalari Barrack of Jere Local Government, Borno State, which you knew to be false.”
The prosecution maintained that the alleged act contravenes provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
When the charges were read to him in court, Mohammed pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Following his plea, prosecuting counsel, A.D. Abdulmalik, requested the court to fix a date for trial and urged that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre pending the commencement of proceedings.
Delivering his judgement, Justice Shettima subsequently adjourned the matter until July 13, 2026, for a pre-trial conference.
The court also ordered that Mohammed be remanded at the Maiduguri Maximum Security Correctional Facility pending further hearing of the case.
The TinCan Island Port (TCIP) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a revenue collection of N111.2 billion in May 2026, consolidating its status as one of the Service’s top-performing commands.
The newly deployed Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Joseph Anani, disclosed this on Wednesday during his maiden interactive session with maritime journalists at the command headquarters, saying the result reflects improved compliance by stakeholders, operational efficiency, and the commitment of officers.
Anani said the Command would sustain and improve on the performance through stricter enforcement of extant laws, deeper collaboration with stakeholders, and greater deployment of technology to facilitate legitimate trade and boost revenue generation.
“I am pleased to inform you that the Command is currently performing commendably in the area of revenue generation. This positive trajectory reflects the dedication of our officers, improved compliance levels, and enhanced operational efficiency. We intend to consolidate these gains and strive to surpass previous achievements,” he said.
He stressed that strict adherence to the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 would remain central to operations at the command, adding that enforcement would continue to be carried out firmly, fairly, and professionally in line with ongoing modernisation reforms.
The CAC also emphasised the importance of the media in Customs operations, describing journalists as key partners in promoting transparency, accountability, and public enlightenment.
“This meeting marks an important step in our deliberate effort to build stronger bridges of understanding and cooperation between the Command and the media,” he said, noting that stakeholder engagement would remain a priority under his leadership.
He assured that the Command’s Public Relations Unit had been strengthened to ensure timely information sharing and improved engagement with journalists, while also pledging capacity-building support for media practitioners through training and sensitisation programmes.
Anani urged journalists to uphold professionalism and ethical standards in their reportage, warning that accurate and balanced reporting remained vital to sustaining public trust.
He also expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the confidence reposed in him, commending ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning the service for improved efficiency and global competitiveness.
The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has approved the suspension of Chief Mike Ozekhome from the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The decision was taken at its 173rd general meeting held on June 23, 2026.
The committee explained that the action was taken pursuant to Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and all Matters Pertaining to the Rank, pending the final determination of the disciplinary proceedings, presently before the Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee of the LPPC and other proceedings.
In a statement signed by the Chief Registrar, Supreme Court of Nigeria, and Secretary, Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, Kabir Akanbi, the suspension is intended to safeguard the integrity, dignity, and prestige of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, while due consideration is given to the matters under review.
“The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), at its 173rd General Meeting held on 23d June 2026, approved the suspension of Chief Mike Ozekhome from the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
“Accordingly, Chief Mike Ozekhome shall refrain from parading himself, presenting himself, or otherwise holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria pending the final determination of the disciplinary proceedings.
“The LPPC remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professional ethics, integrity, and discipline within the legal profession and to ensuring that the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria continues to command public confidence and respect,” the statement added.
Court remands Maiduguri businessmen over N13.6m fraud
TinCan customs generates N111.2bn in May
Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee Suspends Mike Ozekhome As SAN
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