Nnamdi Kanu To Defend Himself In Court As His Lawyers Withdraw From Case

Kanu Agabi, the lead lawyer for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed to withdraw from representing him in his ongoing trial.

During the court session on Thursday, Agabi explained that Nnamdi Kanu has decided to represent himself.

Kanu also confirmed in court that all the other Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) on his defence team have stepped down.

The detained IPOB leader told the judge he will handle his own defence for now but may hire a lawyer later.

When asked if the court should assign him a lawyer, Kanu declined.

Kanu is facing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism, filed against him by the Federal Government.

Speaking for himself, the IPOB leader argued that the court does not have the jurisdiction to try him.

Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested in 2015 but fled the country after being granted bail in 2017.

He was re-arrested in 2021 and has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since then.

The federal government has accused him of inciting violence through IPOB and promoting the secession of Nigeria’s southeast region.

In a recent filing before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, Kanu stated that he is ready to continue defending himself against charges of treasonable felony and terrorism.

He outlined plans to call two groups of witnesses: “ordinary but material” witnesses and “vital and compellable” witnesses, the latter of whom would be summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.

Some of the “vital and compellable” witnesses listed include former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma, former Army Chief Tukur Buratai, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Others are former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Works Minister Dave Umahi, former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, ex-NIA DG Ahmed Rufai, former DSS DG Yusuf Bichi, and the current DSS DG Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.

Kanu also requested 90 days to complete his defence, citing the number of witnesses and the extensive evidence he plans to present.

This came just hours after Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), led a protest in parts of Abuja demanding Nnamdi Kanu’s release.