The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, must enter his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial, holding that the prosecution has established a case against him.

Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the matter, dismissed Kanu’s “no case submission” and further turned down his request to be moved from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the National Hospital, Abuja, for medical examination over alleged deteriorating health.

Instead, the court directed the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to set up a panel of experts to assess Kanu’s medical condition and submit a report within eight days. This followed strong objections by the DSS against transferring him to the National Hospital for a second medical opinion.