AnchorNews Desk | 23 October 2025

ABUJA - In a dramatic turn of events at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the trial of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu has entered a new phase as his legal team withdrew from the case, prompting him to announce plans to conduct his own defence. At the same time, human-rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was arrested on the court premises after joining proceedings in solidarity with the #FreeKanu movement.

Kanu, who leads the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and is facing a seven-count terrorism charge, told the court that he would personally handle his defence. In a motion dated October 21, 2025, he listed 23 proposed defence witnesses, including former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, retired Generals Theophilus Danjuma and Tukur Buratai, and governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dave Umahi.

He requested that the court grant him 90 days to conduct his defence, citing the volume and nature of evidence to be presented. The judge, however, had earlier allocated only six days beginning from October 23. Kanu also filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to continue with the trial, even as a medical panel recently declared him fit to stand trial.

By opting to defend himself and naming several high-ranking political and military figures as witnesses, Kanu appears to be transforming his trial from a purely legal battle into a broader political statement, one that could reshape public perception of his case and the ongoing agitation in the South-East.

Meanwhile, Omoyele Sowore was arrested on Thursday within the premises of the same court shortly after interacting with Kanu’s brother and legal representative. Reports indicate that plain-clothes officers from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command accosted him outside the courtroom and whisked him away in a police vehicle.

Authorities said the arrest was connected to an earlier protest held on October 20, during which 12 people, including Kanu’s brother and a defence lawyer, were detained for allegedly obstructing traffic and chanting “war songs.” The police described the protest as a security risk, while rights groups have condemned the crackdown as an attempt to silence dissent.

Sowore’s arrest has added a new layer of tension to the already charged atmosphere surrounding Kanu’s trial. Analysts say it underscores the delicate balance between the Nigerian state’s security imperatives and the fundamental rights of citizens to free expression and peaceful assembly.

The trial of Nnamdi Kanu remains one of Nigeria’s most politically sensitive cases, intertwining issues of separatism, national unity, human rights, and governance. His decision to defend himself, coupled with the arrest of a prominent activist like Sowore, has heightened public scrutiny of the proceedings and the broader implications for Nigeria’s democracy.

As the court resumes sitting, attention is focused on whether Kanu will be granted the 90-day extension he seeks, how the prosecution will react to his list of high-profile witnesses, and what fate awaits Sowore following his detention.

AnchorNews will continue to monitor and report updates from the Federal High Court and related security developments as the story unfolds.