The Federal Government has officially closed its case in the ongoing trial of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, over charges bordering on treason and terrorism.
The prosecution, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, announced the closure on Thursday after presenting its fifth and final witness before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The witness, identified only as EEE for security reasons, testified and was cross-examined by the defence team, led by Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN.
Announcing the decision to rest the case, Awomolo said,
“After calling five witnesses in the trial, the prosecution is satisfied that from the avalanche of evidence tendered, including the broadcast of activities of the leader of the IPOB, the government has sufficiently satisfied the need to close its case. I therefore close the case.”
In response, Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, informed the court that the defence would be filing a no-case submission, challenging the sufficiency of the prosecution’s evidence and asking the court to dismiss the charges without requiring Kanu to open his defence.
Justice Omotosho noted the development and adjourned the matter to allow the defence to file its application.
Nnamdi Kanu has been facing multiple counts related to alleged incitement, terrorism, and secessionist activities tied to the operations of IPOB, which was declared a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian government in 2017.