The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, till Friday, October 24, following the withdrawal of his entire legal team.
Justice James Omotosho fixed the new date after Kanu’s lead counsel, former Attorney-General of the Federation Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the court that the defence team would be stepping down at the request of their client.
Agabi said, “We are withdrawing because the defendant has decided to take the case back from us and we respect his wishes.”
All other Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) on Kanu’s team, including Onyechi Ikpeazu, Paul Erokoro, and Emeka Etiaba, also announced their withdrawal.
Kanu confirmed the development in court, stating that he would represent himself for now, though he did not rule out engaging new lawyers later.
When Justice Omotosho offered to assign him a lawyer, Kanu declined, insisting on self-representation.
The judge then directed junior members of the defence team still present in court to leave and asked Kanu to begin his defence.
However, when the IPOB leader orally argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to try him, the judge disagreed and ordered the continuation of proceedings.
Counsel to Kanu, Ikpeazu, requested additional time to allow the defendant to prepare, noting that the withdrawal took effect that same morning.
With no objection from the prosecution, Justice Omotosho adjourned the case till Friday for Kanu to open his defence.
Kanu is facing a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism, incitement, and unlawful activities under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and other related laws.
He was first arrested in 2015 and charged with treasonable felony.
After being granted bail in 2017, he fled Nigeria following a military operation in Abia State. He was later re-arrested in Kenya in June 2021 and extradited to Nigeria.
Initially facing 15 counts, the Federal High Court struck out eight in April 2022 for being repetitive or vague.
The Court of Appeal subsequently dismissed the remaining counts and discharged him, citing his illegal rendition.
However, the Supreme Court, in December 2023, overturned that decision, ruling that while the rendition was unlawful, it did not invalidate the charges.
The Federal Government then reactivated the seven-count charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015), which accuses Kanu of using Radio Biafra broadcasts between 2018 and 2021 to incite violence, promote secession, and direct the activities of a proscribed organisation.
Kanu has also filed a fresh motion indicating his intention to call 23 witnesses, including several top political figures and retired military chiefs such as Nyesom Wike, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd.), and Abubakar Malami (SAN), among others.
He said he plans to testify personally and provide sworn statements to clarify his actions and statements, insisting that “justice must not only be done but be seen to have been done.”
