According to reliable media reports, tensions were high in the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday as the long-standing trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resumed with a scathing rebuke from the presiding judge to the Federal Government.
The judge spared no words in reminding the government’s legal team that the court would no longer put up with needless delays, expressing frustration with the prosecution’s slow pace and lack of preparation.
“You must pick six days within two weeks and present all your witnesses. If you fail to do so, I will strike out your case as weak,” the judge said firmly, prompting murmurs of approval and surprise from those in the packed courtroom.
The second witness for the prosecution was cross-examined at the start of the most recent session. However, what was supposed to be a crucial session swiftly descended into chaos as the witness found it difficult to provide precise answers to queries, frequently repeating “I don’t know” and making contradicting claims. The court dismissed the witness due to growing doubts about his credibility.
When the prosecution was unable to produce its third witness, things took a turn for the worse.
The court postponed the case to May 28 and 29 and then again until June 6, 16, 18, and 19, 2025, with evident disapproval.
The judge encouraged the prosecution team, headed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adegboyega Awomolo, to reduce the length of its lengthy list of witnesses in an effort to expedite the trial.
“We can’t keep doing this. Cut down on your witnesses so that this case can be resolved quickly,” he urged.
Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), a former Attorney General of the Federation, commanded a strong defence team that arrived ready. They questioned the veracity of Kanu’s claims by presenting video proof.
A contentious remark made by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was one of the videos played in court. The governor had previously charged IPOB with planning the violence in Orlu, but the video showed him implying that the violence might have had political motivations.
In a different video, retired General T.Y. Danjuma and DSS Director Oluwatosin Ajayi also urged people to learn how to defend themselves.
However, the prosecution’s witness refused to respond, claiming that it was outside his purview to interpret these statements.
During a tense exchange, the defence pressed the witness on whether there was any direct evidence linking Kanu to criminal acts. The witness admitted he had never conducted any personal investigations on IPOB members and could not present any reports tying Kanu to violence.
In what appeared to be a further blow to the prosecution’s credibility, the witness also acknowledged that he had not responded to an official letter from the Attorney General’s office and had failed to provide any investigation report to the court.
