Former spokesperson to ex–Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, has said that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, appears uninterested in continuing his terrorism trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Akande made the remark on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television, while reacting to Kanu’s decision to personally defend himself before Justice James Omotosho after his lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), withdrew from the case.
According to Akande, Kanu’s recent actions suggest he is no longer committed to a judicial resolution of his long-standing case but is instead pushing for a political settlement.
“It’s quite clear that Kanu is not interested in pursuing this case in court,” Akande said. “The conduct of both himself and his legal team shows inconsistency. After demanding a speedy trial and having a judge willing to proceed, he suddenly decides to represent himself? That clearly points to a lack of interest in the judicial process.”
The political commentator further argued that Kanu’s preference for a political solution is not unusual, noting that similar approaches have been adopted in other high-profile cases involving political or ethnic agitation.
“He is seeking a political solution, and to be fair, there is some logic to it,” Akande continued. “There have been others like him whose cases were eventually resolved through political negotiation rather than prolonged court battles.”
Akande also highlighted that the prolonged nature of Kanu’s case was partly due to delays from both the prosecution and defence sides, including frequent changes in legal representation.
“If you look at the trajectory of this case, one reason it has dragged on for years is because of these inconsistencies — switching lawyers, motions upon motions, and back-and-forth tactics from both parties,” he explained.
While acknowledging that Kanu is entitled to a fair hearing, Akande called for a more pragmatic approach to resolving the matter in the interest of peace and national unity.
“I believe Kanu deserves his day in court,” he said, “but at this point, it’s obvious that the entire issue has become politically charged. For the sake of Nigeria’s national cohesion, it might be time to consider a comprehensive political solution that brings this matter to a close.”
Nnamdi Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, following his re-arrest and extradition from Kenya. He faces charges bordering on terrorism and secession-related offenses, which he continues to deny, insisting that his movement is peaceful and rooted in self-determination.
