Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has formally notified the Federal High Court, Abuja, of his decision to personally conduct his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial — a major twist in one of Nigeria’s most watched legal battles.

In a fresh motion reportedly filed and signed by Kanu himself, the separatist leader named 23 witnesses, among them some of Nigeria’s most influential political and military figures. The list includes Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd.), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor Hope Uzodinma, Minister Nyesom Wike, Minister Dave Umahi, and former Abia governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Kanu is also seeking 90 days to prepare and conclude his defence, citing the number and status of witnesses he plans to call.

Court documents show he categorized his witnesses into two groups — “ordinary but material” (for factual testimonies) and “vital and compellable” (who can be subpoenaed under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011).

Interestingly, the motion was filed without the signatures of his lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), or his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, fueling speculation of internal rifts in the IPOB leader’s legal camp.

The decision follows the court’s dismissal of his no-case submission on September 26, 2025. Insiders say the move signals Kanu’s determination to take “strategic control” of proceedings and directly challenge the state’s case.

His filing coincided with a #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja, led by activist Omoyele Sowore, which ended with the arrest of 13 persons, including Ejimakor, Kanu’s brother Emmanuel Kanu, and several IPOB supporters. They were later arraigned for conspiracy, disobedience to lawful orders, and public disturbance.

Medical reports from a Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) panel earlier confirmed that Kanu, though hypertensive, is fit for trial — a finding IPOB had dismissed as “compromised.”

The case, FRN v. Nnamdi Kanu (FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015), dates back to his 2015 arrest and controversial 2021 rendition from Kenya. The federal government is prosecuting him on 15 terrorism-related charges, including managing a proscribed group, inciting violence through Radio Biafra, and financing terrorism.

While the prosecution closed its case in June with five DSS witnesses and multimedia evidence, Kanu’s latest move could prolong the trial but also allow him to “speak for himself.”

Observers say his choice to represent himself is both symbolic and tactical — a bid to regain control of a courtroom drama that continues to test Nigeria’s judiciary, political tolerance, and human rights posture.

Justice James Omotosho is expected to rule on Kanu’s request for a 90-day defence window on Thursday, October 23, 2025, when proceedings resume at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its ongoing two-week warning strike after a crucial overnight meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja.

National President of the union, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the suspension during a press briefing on Wednesday, explaining that the decision came after “useful engagements” with representatives of the Federal Government.

According to Piwuna, the NEC meeting, which began on Tuesday and ended around 4:00 a.m. Wednesday, reviewed the outcome of discussions held with government officials on the lingering issues that triggered the strike.

> “We’ve had useful engagements with representatives of the government to consider the response to the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreement,” he said.
“However, we are definitely not where we were prior to the commencement of the strike.”

The ASUU leader noted that the government had shown some willingness to return to the negotiation table, prompting the union to review its industrial action.

> “While noting that a lot more work is still required, NEC came to the conclusion that the ongoing strike should be reviewed. The decision to review the strike action was a result of efforts by our students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress,” Piwuna added.

He said the suspension was meant to reciprocate the appeals of well-meaning Nigerians who had intervened in the crisis.

ASUU had declared a total and comprehensive warning strike on October 13, over what it described as the government’s persistent failure to implement agreements and address key welfare and funding concerns in public universities.

The union’s demands include the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, release of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, revitalisation funding for public universities, and an end to the victimisation of lecturers in Lagos State University, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

Other demands are the payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, promotion arrears of over four years, and the release of withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union dues.

Though the warning strike has been suspended, the union emphasized that it remains “vigilant” and expects government to act in good faith within the window provided by the gesture.

The House of Representatives has resolved to intervene in the ongoing dispute between members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery, a face-off that recently disrupted petroleum product distribution nationwide.

The decision followed the consideration and adoption of a motion of urgent public importance co-sponsored by Alhassan Doguwa (Kano) and Abdussamad Dasuki (Sokoto) during Tuesday’s plenary session.

Titled “We Need to Protect Private Investment from Adversarial Unionism,” the motion drew attention to the significance of the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, described as the largest private petroleum refinery in Africa.

The lawmakers expressed concern that the industrial action, which began on September 29, 2025, had halted operations at the refinery and caused a nationwide disruption in petroleum supply. Nigeria reportedly lost about 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day over three days, deepening scarcity and forcing long queues at filling stations across several states.

Leading debate on the motion, Doguwa stressed the need to protect strategic private investments such as the Dangote Refinery, which, he said, holds enormous potential for energy security, job creation, foreign-exchange savings, and reduced dependence on fuel imports.

“The House is aware that the Dangote Refinery is a strategic private investment of immense national importance, with the potential to guarantee energy security, reduce import dependency, generate employment, and conserve foreign exchange,” Doguwa said.

He noted that the refinery operates within a Free Trade Zone and is therefore subject to the legal framework of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA).

“Section 18(5) of the NEPZA Act clearly states that employment in the free zone shall be governed by rules and regulations made by the Authority and not subject to any other enactments relating to employment matters,” he added.

The House, he continued, is “concerned that labour actions disregarding the legal protections conferred on Free Zones under the NEPZA Act not only breach the law but create a hostile investment climate capable of deterring future local and foreign investors.”

The lawmakers warned that if key private ventures continued to face “unlawful disruptions by adversarial unionism,” the country risked losing both strategic assets and investor confidence critical to economic growth.

During deliberation, Ahmad Jaha (Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza) urged caution, describing the call for an immediate probe as “ill-timed.”

Following debate, the House adopted the motion and mandated its leadership to broker peace between the parties in the interest of national stability.

It also urged the Ministries of Labour and Employment, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Justice to “jointly develop and implement a national framework or set of policies to safeguard private investments of strategic national importance from adversarial and unlawful union actions.”

Additionally, the Ministry of Justice and NEPZA were directed to ensure “full enforcement and compliance with Section 18(5) of the NEPZA Act” across all relevant Free Zone operations.

The lawmakers said the intervention was necessary to balance workers’ rights with the protection of vital private enterprises that underpin Nigeria’s energy and industrial sectors.