posted 6th May 2025
Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial Resumes Today with Cross-Examination of Key Prosecution Witness
Abuja, Nigeria – 6 May 2025
The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is set to resume today at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the cross-examination of the prosecution’s witness-in-chief continuing from where it paused on 2 May. Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed the development in a statement released on Monday, noting that the legal team met with Kanu earlier that day to prepare and strategise.
“We’re set for tomorrow. Cross-examination of prosecution witness-in-chief shall continue from where it stopped on 2nd May. Earlier today, the Legal Team met with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to prep & compare notes,” Ejimakor stated, signalling the team’s readiness to challenge the prosecution’s evidence.
The trial, which has drawn significant attention, resumed on 29 April 2025 after a prolonged delay, with the prosecution presenting its first witness, who testified anonymously behind a screen, identified only by initials. The court granted this anonymity following a request from the prosecution, with Kanu being the only person permitted to see the witness, in line with legal protocol. The session was adjourned to 2 May for the defence to begin cross-examining the witness, a process that will continue today.
Ejimakor has previously expressed confidence in the defence’s strategy, stating on 29 April that the cross-examination would test the “veracity” of the prosecution’s witness. “We are hopeful that through this trial, we shall be able to show that Nnamdi Kanu did not commit any offence known to law,” he told journalists after the April session.
Kanu faces a seven-count charge bordering on alleged treasonable felony and terrorism, to which he has pleaded not guilty. His legal team, now bolstered by six Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), including Kanu Agabi and Onyechi Ikpeazu, has maintained that the charges lack merit. The team has also challenged the impartiality of the previous trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, leading to her recusal in September 2024. The case was reassigned to Justice James Omotosho, who has ordered an accelerated trial, fixing 29 April, 2 May, and 6 May for hearings.
The IPOB leader’s detention since his controversial rendition from Kenya in June 2021 has sparked widespread debate, with supporters labelling the trial a “sham” and calling for his release. Posts on X from IPOB-affiliated accounts indicate ongoing public interest, with updates on the cross-examination proceedings shared widely.
As the trial resumes, all eyes are on the defence’s cross-examination, which could prove pivotal in shaping the trajectory of Kanu’s legal battle. The court’s proceedings are expected to shed further light on the prosecution’s case and the defence’s efforts to clear Kanu’s name.
