Over 30 people, including human rights activist Omoyele Sowore of Take it Back Movement, had applied to attend the trial as observers. Notably, Sowore is not among the approved observers, according to The Nation.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court has approved a list of 20 individuals to observe the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
Over 30 people, including human rights activist Omoyele Sowore of Take it Back Movement, had applied to attend the trial as observers. Notably, Sowore is not among the approved observers, according to The Nation.
The court had scheduled the trial to resume on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
The court required observers to be seated by 9 am.
Meanwhile, several Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) had expressed interest in joining Kanu’s defence team, including Chief Kanu Agabi, Uchenna Njoku, Prof. Onyechi Ikpeazu, Emeka Etiaba, Mela, Dr. Joseph Akubo, and Audu Nunghe.
The court had scheduled an accelerated hearing for the seven-count terrorism charge against Kanu.
On Monday, SaharaReporters reported that four Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) had joined the legal team representing Kanu.
The addition of the four SANs — Ikpeazu, Etiaba, Nunghe, and Akubo — increased the number of Senior Advocates on Kanu’s team to six, and brought the total number of lawyers defending him to 19. They join existing SANs Chief Kanu Agabi and Uchenna Njoku.
On Tuesday, SaharaReporters revealed that witnesses scheduled to testify against Nnamdi Kanu on behalf of the Nigerian government would do so behind a protective screen.
The decision followed a ruling by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, made after a request by government counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).
Justice Omotosho granted the application during proceedings on the Federal Government’s seven-count terrorism charge against Kanu.
