Senior attorney Kanu Agabi, who heads Nnamdi Kanu‘s legal team, has requested to stop representing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who are prohibited from practicing law.
Agabi stated during Thursday’s court hearing that the defendant has decided to represent himself in the case.
Kanu testified in court that every senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on the defence team has likewise withdrawn from the trial.
Kanu informed the court that although he might want to hire a lawyer in the future, he would be representing himself for the time being. He refused the offer of a lawyer when the judge enquired if he should be appointed one.
Kanu made an oral defence, claiming the court lacked the authority to trial him.
After being given bail in 2017, Kanu, who had been arrested in 2015, left the country. The Department of State Services (DSS) has held him since his subsequent re-arrest in 2021.
The separatist Kanu has been charged by the federal government with inciting violence through IPOB’s operations and advocating for the south-east region’s separation from Nigeria.
Kanu stated in a fresh plea submitted to the federal high court in Abuja on Tuesday that he is ready to move forward with his defence in the ongoing trial, which involves accusations of terrorism and treason.
Kanu told the court in the filing that he plans to call two types of witnesses: “ordinary but material witnesses” and “vital and compellable” witnesses. He added that these witnesses would be called in accordance with section 232 of the Evidence Act of 2011.
Those named as “vital and compellable” witnesses include former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma, former Army Staff Chief Tukur Buratai, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.
Ajayi, the current director-general of the DSS, Ahmed Rufai, the immediate past director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Yusuf Bichi, the former director-general of the DSS, Dave Umahi, the minister of works, Abubakar Malami, the former attorney-general of the federation, and Okezie Ikpeazu, the former governor of Abia state, are also mentioned.
Citing the amount of witnesses and the type of evidence he plans to present, the IPOB leader also requested that the court give him ninety days to complete his defence.
