Court Dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s “No Case Submission”, Orders NMA to Examine His Health

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has a case to answer in his ongoing terrorism trial.

The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, on Thursday dismissed Kanu’s application for a “no case submission,” ruling that the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence requiring the defendant to enter his defence. According to the court, the evidence presented so far raises issues that cannot be resolved without hearing directly from the IPOB leader. In the same ruling, Justice Omotosho turned down Kanu’s request to be transferred from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the National Hospital, Abuja, for medical examination. Kanu had told the court that his health was deteriorating and required urgent specialist attention. The DSS, however, opposed the application, insisting that it has adequate medical facilities to cater for his needs. To resolve the dispute, the court ordered the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to set up an independent investigation committee to examine Kanu’s health condition. The judge directed the committee to conduct a thorough medical evaluation and submit its report to the court within eight days. Kanu has been facing trial on multiple terrorism-related charges since his re-arrest and repatriation to Nigeria in 2021. His legal team has repeatedly raised concerns about his health and detention conditions, while the prosecution maintains that he is receiving appropriate care in DSS custody. With the latest ruling, the case now proceeds to the defence stage, where Kanu will be expected to respond to the charges brought against him.