Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has asked the Court of Appeal to stop the Federal High Court (FHC) from delivering judgement in his terrorism trial scheduled for November 20, 2025.

Kanu, who is representing himself, said he had already appealed against a ruling by Trial Justice James Omotosho that dismissed his no-case submission challenging the legal competence of the charge and the court’s jurisdiction. He argued that the charge, based on the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2013, had been repealed.

He also claimed that the trial court ignored constitutional issues and did not properly evaluate evidence from the prosecution’s witnesses before requiring him to open his defence.

Kanu warned that if the court proceeds with the judgement, his appeal would become a mere academic exercise, potentially leading to an unlawful conviction. He asked the appellate court to halt the judgement and declare the proceedings under the repealed law null and void.

The appellate court has not yet set a date to hear his motion. Kanu has been in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021.