Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday, lost his case before the Abuja Federal High Court, Abuja.
Kanu had made a no case submission through his lawyer, Chief Godwin Kanu Agabi, SAN, in a terrorism case filed against him by the Nigerian Government.
But in a ruling, Justice James Omotosho said he has a case to answer and ordered him to open his defence.
He gave the ruling while upholding the arguments of the Prosecution led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.
The Court held that prima facie case has been established against him by the federal government and consequently ordered him to present his defense in the terrorism charges against him.
Omotosho held that it is in the best interest of Kanu to be given opportunity to clear some issues raised against him.
NATIONAL POST recalls that after the Nigerian Government closed its prosecution, Agabi had, among other arguments, said that throughout the proceedings, no single witness was called to tell the court how he was incited by Kanu to resort to violence.
He also informed the court that the five witnesses called during the trial, who are operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), admitted that their roles were limited to obtaining statements from Kanu.
In its ruling, the court agreed with all the arguments canvassed by the prosecution and ordered Kanu to open his defence.
The court also rejected request by Kanu to be transferred from custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, to the National Hospital Abuja for medical examination over alleged deteriorating health issues.
The court subsequently ordered the President of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA to constitute an investigation committee to examine Kanu’s medical condition and submit report to it in eight days following objection by DSS to his request to be transferred to National Hospital for second opinion on his health condition.
