The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has given Nnamdi Kanu, the proscribed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a final chance to defend himself in his ongoing terrorism trial.

Justice James Omotosho ruled that Kanu must enter his defence or risk being foreclosed, after Kanu repeatedly refused to do so, citing lack of valid charges.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Justice Omotosho said it was his duty as a judge in the case to accord the defendant sufficient opportunity to put in his defence.

The judge spoke while delivering judgment on an application by the prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, that the court should foreclose Kanu, who failed to enter his defence having spent five out of the six days the court granted him to conduct his defence.

Awomolo had noted that the court had on Tuesday, adjourned till Wednesday for Kanu to enter a defence in his trial or be deemed to have waived his right to do so.

He further noted that at the resumption of proceedings on Wednesday, Kanu still declined to open his defence as ordered by the court.

Awomolo urged the court to take note of the defendant’s position that he would not enter any defence because there is no valid charge against him.

He then prayed the court to foreclose the defendant and adjourn for judgment.

Earlier, Kanu, who represented himself, addressed the court from the dock.

He reiterated his position that there is no valid charge against him to warrant his being called to enter a defence.

The battle by the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to remove the hand of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, from the party’s leadership has suffered a setback.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on October 31, 2025, issued an injunction stopping the party from proceeding with its planned 2025 National Convention.

The party leadership scheduled the Convention to hold between November 15 and November 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Party leaders were at the Federal High Court in Abuja for the judgement, hoping for a favourable outcome.

Those present at the court included the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.

Others were the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed.

The rest were Members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

PDP leaders came for the final verdict on a matter brought by the Abia State Chairman, Abraham Nnanna Ammah.

Other parties to the suit are the Imo State PDP Chairman, Austine Nwachukwu and South-South Zonal Secretary, Tuner George, from Bayelsa state.

The trio, allies of Wike, asked the court to stop the scheduled PDP National Convention holding in Ibadan, Oyo State.

PDP leaders at the Federal high Court, Abuja, including National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, and Members of the National Working Committee (NWC)

Wike’s Faction wins

Ruling, the judge, James Omotosho, cited PDP’s failure to comply with its constitution, 1999 Nigerian Constitution, and Electoral Act.

Judge Omotosho cited the absence of valid state congresses in at least 14 states before advancing to the national level.

The court restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing any outcomes from the event without due process.

The process includes proper 21-day notices, as well as co-signatures on official documents.

Wike, a former Rivers State Governor, has been locking horns with the PDP hierarchy since 2022.

He had lost the party’s primary election to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

He and a group of five governors, G5, demanded a southern presidential candidate but the party overruled them in favor of Abubakar, a northerner.

In its defence, PDP said the suit was an internal matter, arguing that the court lacks the jurisdiction to try the matter.

The defendants accused the plaintiffs of sabotage, trying to derail the transitions of the leadership.

However, the judge noted that the preparation for the convention is invalid.

The court also pointed out some negative issues such as the unsigned notice from National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum.

It also condemned an alleged forged signature of the National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, another Wike ally.

PDP leaders arriving the Federal high Court in Abuja

Wike celebrates and decries verdict

Following the court verdict, Wike addressed some PDP stakeholders at his residence in Abuja, including former Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.

Expressing bittersweet emotions, he on one hand extolled the decision.

He described it is a victory against impunity, saying it is one of the happiest days of his life.

On the other hand, he described the judgement as saddest, noting that it may have sounded a death knell on the coffin of PDP.

“We are happy that we have fought impunity, while on the other hand, we are not happy with what is going on in the party,” Wike said.

“PDP leaders must talk to us… Nobody will be intimidated; we will do what is right,” he added.

As the 2027 general elections approaches, the party risks leadership paralysis as Damagum’s tenure winds down.

Failure to conduct a convention means no new executives, no candidate nominations, and a mass evacuation from the party.

Anambra State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, has regretted the Supreme Court decision that affirmed Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu as the authentic candidate, saying the justices are “without conscience”.

Mr. Ozigbo made the bold challenge in a press release he issued on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, and made available to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM).

Ozigbo cried that the apex court bowed to fear, instead of to truth or justice.

In a statement entitled “Unbroken: We Will Not Bow To Darkness“, he regretted that the court denied him hearing.

According to him, the court ‘announced its verdict without listening, decided without examining, and declared without conscience’.

He stated: “I write this with a heavy yet unbroken heart.

“On Monday, under intense pressure from anti-democratic forces, our Supreme Court bowed, not to truth or justice, but to fear.

“Under the shadow of intimidation, our lawyers were silenced, and our case — a case of truth, merit, and hope — was denied a hearing.

“They announced their verdict without listening, decided without examining, and declared without conscience.”

Anambra State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu

“Deep wound to Nigeria’s democracy”

Ozigbo noted that the ruling left a deep scar on Nigeria’s democracy, saying that the ‘judiciary is captured’ by evil forces.

He stated further: “This is not just an injury to one man.

“It is a deep wound to Nigeria’s democracy — another painful reminder of a judiciary captured and in urgent need of redemption.

“I refuse to despair. Because I know something courts cannot silence — the voice of conscience, the power of faith, and the will of a people who will not bow to the darkness.

“We will not bow… will not surrender… will not let darkness write our destiny.”

The former Transcorp Hotel huncho vowed to continue to fight, hoping to be vindicated soon.

He said: “We will continue to fight — not with bitterness, but with purpose; not with violence, but with vision; not for power, but for Nigeria’s soul.

“This battle was never mine alone. It is the struggle of every Nigerian who believes that truth still matters, that light still breaks through, that our nation can still be redeemed.

“So I stand today, not defeated, but determined. God is just starting with us, and we will be vindicated soon.

“Let history record that when others chose silence, we spoke up; when others compromised, we stood.

“That in the face of injustice, we did not curse the darkness — we lit a candle.

“And as we hold that candle high, let the world see that our faith is stronger than their fear.

“We are valiant... unbroken. We are not done.”

It could be recalled that Prince Ukachukwu was declared the winner over Ozigbo during the APC primary election in Anambra State.

Ozigbo challenged the decision at the trial court, then Court of Appeal but lost.

He petitioned the apex court but got no consolation either.