The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is expected to learn his fate today as the Federal High Court in Abuja delivers judgment in his longstanding legal confrontation with the Federal Government. According to Nivo News, Justice James Omotosho will rule on a series of applications from both the defence and prosecution, including Kanu’s challenge to the validity of the terrorism charges against him and his request for release on the grounds of alleged unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental rights.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Kanu has been held by the Department of State Services since June 2021 after what his legal team describes as an “extraordinary rendition” from Kenya. He currently faces seven terrorism-related counts involving incitement, operating an unlawful organisation and actions deemed harmful to national security, allegations he has consistently denied.

In a recent application, Kanu argued that the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act under which he is being prosecuted has been repealed. He urged the court to dismiss the charges, insisting they do not constitute any recognised offence in law. He also requested the removal of a “purported plea of not guilty,” which he claims was entered without his consent and in violation of a Supreme Court ruling. Additionally, he asked the court to void all subsequent proceedings and order his immediate release.

Justice Omotosho, however, faulted Kanu for failing to utilise the six days allotted to him to open his defence after the prosecution closed its case on June 19, 2025. The judge stated that the court had granted several adjournments at the request of the defence and could not now be accused of denying fair hearing. He noted that Kanu’s no-case submission had previously been dismissed and recalled that the IPOB leader initially agreed to present a defence before later insisting that his trial was invalid.

The judge emphasised that a defendant who refuses to take advantage of an opportunity to be heard cannot compel the court to halt proceedings. He stated that Kanu had effectively waived his right to defend himself, clearing the path for judgment to be scheduled.

Although the case was instituted in 2015, it experienced prolonged delays before being re-assigned to Justice Omotosho’s courtroom earlier this year, where it moved with accelerated hearing. The prosecution presented five witnesses and tendered multiple exhibits before closing its case. Today’s ruling will determine whether Kanu regains his freedom or continues to stand trial on terrorism-related allegations.

The United States chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved to participate in a Congressional hearing examining allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria. According to Nivo News, the party formally notified the United States House Subcommittee on Africa of its intention to testify as American lawmakers review former President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Subcommittee is scheduled to evaluate the decision on Thursday, November 20, 2025, prompting APC USA Chairman, Tai Balofin, to confirm that the group had written to Subcommittee Chairman, Chris Smith, seeking permission to join the session. He explained that the party was ready to send a high-profile delegation equipped with what it described as reliable intelligence and verified data on the country’s evolving security challenges.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Balofin stressed that international debate on Nigeria’s crisis often overlooks its intricate dynamics. He insisted that the security situation cannot be reduced to religious tensions, noting that factors such as banditry, resource-driven clashes, climate pressures and cross-border criminal networks all contribute to the violence.

Balofin added that the delegation was prepared to appear before Congress at any time, emphasising the need to present U.S. lawmakers with a balanced and factual assessment. He warned that oversimplified narratives could distort the broader reality facing millions of Nigerians.

He noted that the APC USA’s planned testimony would underscore what it believes are significant security achievements under President Bola Tinubu, including disruptions of terrorist networks, advances in community-driven early-warning systems and projects aimed at strengthening interfaith coexistence. He also referenced recent data showing a decline in attacks in several high-risk regions, citing figures from both Nigerian sources and independent international observers.

The group also intends to propose enhanced U.S.–Nigeria collaboration in areas such as security operations, intelligence exchange and humanitarian relief, arguing that these measures are crucial for safeguarding all religious communities while preserving diplomatic goodwill.

Balofin praised Chairman Chris Smith for his long-standing advocacy for global human rights and religious freedom, urging him to grant APC USA the opportunity to contribute to what he described as a fair and solution-focused discussion.

The latest development follows Nigeria’s criticism of the United States for leaving the country out of a United Nations event hosted by American rapper Nicki Minaj on reported killings targeting Nigerians of a specific faith.

According to Nivo News, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr. Wole Oluyede, has endorsed the party’s decision to expel former governor Ayodele Fayose, insisting that the former leader must be held accountable for actions that allegedly weakened the party over the past three years.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking with journalists after a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado-Ekiti, the Australia-based medical practitioner maintained that the PDP would not permit Fayose to derail the political structure its leaders are working to strengthen ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election. He reaffirmed that the party in Ekiti remains unified and more formidable despite what he described as Fayose’s persistent anti-party behaviour.

Oluyede urged the Tunji Odeyemi-led State Executive Committee to establish a reconciliation panel to engage aspirants who lost the primary election and other dissatisfied members, stressing that internal disagreements are normal in political organisations. He added that his focus is solely on securing the support of Ekiti people, which he believes the party is well positioned to achieve.

He noted that leadership comes with responsibility and cautioned that no leader should undermine the same people who once depended on them. While stating that Fayose would be welcomed back if he chooses to retrace his steps, Oluyede warned that the party would resist any attempts to destabilize its progress. “If he throws dirt at us, we will return it,” he declared, emphasizing that no one builds a house only to destroy it with a bulldozer.

Oluyede concluded that despite recent tensions, the PDP in Ekiti is steadily growing, united, and without factions.