09/11/2025
“SHOW ME THE LAW — THEN I WILL DEFEND MYSELF.” — KANU STANDS HIS GROUND IN COURT
It was a charged morning at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu walked in, calm but determined.
No lawyers beside him — he chose to speak for himself.
The courtroom was packed. Some people stood.
Everyone knew today would be intense.
KANU’S FIRST WORDS
He rose, looked directly at the judge, and said:
> “My Lord, there is no charge against me. Not one.
This court has no jurisdiction.”
His voice was steady.
No fear.
Just clarity.
He asked the court to rule on this immediately.
JUDGE SAYS ‘NOT NOW’
Justice Omotosho told him that the court would take his motion “at the proper stage.”
Kanu didn’t back down.
> “Jurisdiction comes first.
If there is no valid charge, there is no further stage.”
Murmurs in the gallery.
People leaned forward.
HE READS THE SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT ALOUD
Kanu opened a folder —
Inside was the December 15, 2023 Supreme Court decision.
He read a paragraph that said the charge used against him “does not exist in Nigerian law”
and must be amended.
He then looked straight at the government lawyers:
> “You were told to amend it.
You refused.
You forced me to plead to a charge that DOES NOT EXIST.”
You could feel the tension.
Even the air felt heavy.
THE CHALLENGE THAT SILENCED THE PROSECUTION
Kanu turned to the lead prosecutor, Senior Advocate Awomolo.
> “Learned Silk, please tell this court:
Name the law I have broken.”
Awomolo shuffled his papers.
He said nothing.
Kanu repeated:
> “Just one law.
The name.
The section.
The statute.
I am waiting.”
Still —
Silence.
Even people sitting at the back could sense the discomfort.
SECTION 36(12) — KANU’S KEY ARGUMENT
Kanu reminded the court:
> “Our constitution says no person can be tried for an offence not written in a law.
No written law = no offence.
No offence = no trial.”
The judge disagreed.
He said that rule only matters at the end — at conviction.
Kanu replied immediately, almost before the judge finished:
> “If the law is dead, the trial cannot start.
It is void from the beginning.”
Heads turned.
Some nodded.
HISTORIC CASE LAW
He quoted an old British case, Entick v. Carrington (1765):
> “If it is not in the law books, it is not law.”
He said the judge must take official notice that the laws used against him were repealed.
The judge said nothing.
“I WILL DEFEND MYSELF NOW — IF YOU SHOW ME THE LAW.”
At this point, the judge asked:
> “Are you ready to open your defence?”
Without hesitation, Kanu answered:
> “I will open my defence right now —
this minute —
if you show me the law I have broken.”
The room went silent.
PROSECUTION TRIES TO PUSH — AND FAILS
Awomolo SAN tried to speak:
> “He is wasting the time of the court.”
Kanu turned toward him:
> “I am wasting time?
Show me the law.
If you show it, I will go to the dock immediately.”
Awomolo sat down.
He had no response.
Someone in the gallery whispered:
“Checkmate.”
KANU: ‘THIS IS PERSECUTION’
Before the session ended, Kanu said quietly but firmly:
> “When a court refuses to acknowledge the law,
refuses to obey the Supreme Court,
and insists on trial with no charge —
that is not justice.
It is persecution.”
No one challenged him.
You could hear the emotion in his voice —
not fear,
not anger,
but exhaustion…
and conviction.
ADJOURNED
The judge adjourned the case to
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
for Kanu to “open his defence or waive it.”
Kanu maintained one final sentence:
> “No law, no trial.”
THE HEART OF THE MATTER
The laws used to charge him were repealed.
The Supreme Court ordered government lawyers to amend the charges —
but they never did.
So today, Kanu stands in court, essentially asking:
> “Why am I still here?”
No one has answered.
THE PUBLIC QUESTION
If the highest court in the land said the law is dead…
If the constitution says you cannot be tried without a written law…
If even the prosecutors cannot name the law he broke…
Then why is he still in detention?
That is the question hanging in the air tonight.
