Four Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have been added to the legal team defending Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as his trial resumes on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. This increases the number of SANs on his team to six, alongside existing members Chief Kanu Agabi and Uchenna Njoku.
The newly appointed SANs include Prof. Onyechi Ikpeazu, Emeka Etiaba, Mela Audu Nunghe, and Dr. Joseph Akubo. With the new additions, the total number of lawyers representing Kanu is now 19.
Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021, faces charges related to terrorism, including alleged incitement and threats through broadcasts, as well as involvement in the importation of bomb-making materials. The trial follows a re-arraignment in March 2025 on seven amended charges.
The court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, has set several dates for hearings, including April 29, May 2, and May 6, 2025. The case has been delayed for over a decade, and the judge has ordered an expedited trial.
The Federal Government has accused Kanu of orchestrating attacks on security personnel and promoting violence across the South-East, including the enforcement of a sit-at-home order. However, Kanu has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his legal team continues to mount a defense as the trial progresses.
