Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained IPOB leader, has essentially told the Federal High Court in Abuja, “These charges? Toss ’em.”
He filed a motion on October 30, 2025, demanding his immediate release and the dismissal of all charges. His main argument is straightforward: there are no valid charges against him because the prosecution is relying on laws that have been repealed and no longer exist.
Specifically, he points out that using repealed laws like the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) and the old Terrorism Prevention Act violates the Constitution, which prohibits trying someone for an offense that isn’t defined under existing law. He’s citing the Constitution, the Evidence Act, and the current Terrorism Act to back up this claim.
To complicate things for the prosecution, Kanu also argues that the alleged offenses happened in Kenya, and the court hasn’t followed the necessary procedure (validation by a Kenyan court) to assume extraterritorial jurisdiction, which he says voids the charges.
In short, Kanu believes the entire case is “a nullity ab initio” (void from the start) and is pressing the court to strike out everything, citing past Supreme Court decisions and constitutional supremacy. He’s asking the prosecution to respond swiftly and for the judge to rule on the matter by November 4, 2025.
So, the defense strategy is: Expired laws, no valid crime. Case closed.
About The Author
