The long-running legal saga of Nigerian separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, which is set to resume on Tuesday, appears to be heading toward an almost inevitable conviction after Kanu dismissed his defence lawyers, much to the frustration of the presiding judge.
Kanu, who leads the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, has for years campaigned for the independence of south-eastern Nigeria, claiming systemic marginalisation of the Igbo ethnic group.
The issue remains deeply divisive in Nigeria, which endured a devastating civil war between 1967 and 1970 following the attempted secession of the self-declared Republic of Biafra.
Kanu’s latest decision to dispense with his legal team and represent himself has thrown proceedings into disarray. Last week, Justice James Omotosho urged him to seek professional legal advice after Kanu insisted that, upon reviewing his case file, there was “no charge against me”.
Prosecutors have already presented their case against the controversial figure, who faces multiple charges including “terrorism” and the publication of deliberately misleading broadcasts.
Kanu, who holds both Nigerian and British citizenship, became a prominent advocate for Biafran independence through his London-based outlet, Radio Biafra. He first drew the attention of Nigerian authorities in 2015 after declaring, “we need guns and we need bullets”. IPOB has since denied that the remark was meant literally.
That same year saw the first major pro-Biafra demonstrations since the end of the civil war. Kanu was arrested while visiting Nigeria and later released on bail, only to flee in 2017 following a military raid on his home. He resurfaced in Kenya, from where he was extradited to Nigeria in 2021—an act his legal team has described as a violation of international law and tantamount to abduction.
While Kanu’s trial initially attracted attention for its implications on free speech and human rights—particularly allegations of torture and abuse by security forces in both Kenya and Nigeria—such issues have largely faded from focus. As the proceedings drag on, sporadic violence continues to plague the south-east region.
Following Kanu’s re-arrest in 2021, IPOB was accused of violently enforcing “sit-at-home” orders that effectively paralysed markets, transport, and schools across the region as a form of economic protest. IPOB has denied any involvement in violence, instead attributing such actions to criminal elements exploiting the situation.