Nnamdi Kanu to Defend Self in Court without Lawyers as Trial Resumes

The family of the Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has revealed plans to defend himself in court when his trial resumes on March 21.

This was disclosed in a statement released on Tuesday by Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, on behalf of the family.

According to the statement, Kanu decided to represent himself to ensure a fair hearing without the legal delays that have hindered his case.

The statement reads, “On Friday, 21 March 2025, when the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu resumes before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court Abuja, he will be taking the bold step of defending himself in court.

“This development signals a critical juncture in this case that has already exposed deep-seated concerns about the Nigerian judiciary’s handling of matters tied to the legitimate agitation for Biafra’s self-determination.

“The absence of traditional legal representation will dismantle the usual, ‘as my lord pleases’ constraints that govern judicial proceedings in Nigeria, that has for decades allowed the courts to brazenly subvert the cause of justice under a cloak of deference that shield rather than expose injustice.

“The very foundations of the institutional bias that has long plagued this case will be laid bare for the world to see.

“This decision by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu comes on the heels of successfully forcing the recusal of Justice Binta Nyako who brazenly defied the Supreme Court of Nigeria through her delective implementation of the termination contained in their judgment. She was hell-bent on convicting a person for exercising a right that the laws of Nigeria stated unambiguously that he could.”

It added, “The handling of this case by the Federal Government has been marred by prejudice and unfairness from day one. Onyendu’s shift to self-defence underscores our distrust in a system perceived to be stacked against us and the cause he champions. It also places an immense burden on Justice Omotosho to uphold the principles of fair hearing, fair trial, and the rule of law—principles that have too often been undermined in this politically charged sham trial.

“The world is watching. Any failure by Justice Omotosho to ensure justice is not only done but seen to be done will further erode confidence in a judiciary already criticised for its selective application of the law. The stakes could not be higher, and the implications of this trial extend far beyond the courtroom.”

His trial has now been reassigned to Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

This comes after Justice Binta Nyako, who had previously handled the case, stepped down following an earlier court order. Kanu had strongly objected to her attempt to continue presiding over the matter during his last court appearance.

Since June 2021, Kanu has been held in solitary confinement at the Department of State Services headquarters in Abuja, following his controversial arrest and extradition from Kenya