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 to allow him time to prepare for his defence after dismissing his entire legal team and opting to represent himself in court.
At Thursday’s proceedings, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, who had been leading the defence, formally announced his withdrawal from the case. Agabi told the court that Kanu had taken the case file and decided to personally handle his defence, effectively relieving all senior lawyers on his team of their duties.
Confirming the development, Justice James Omotosho ordered all previously engaged defence lawyers to vacate the courtroom, leaving only the Senior Advocates of Nigeria who had appeared earlier in attendance. The judge then directed Kanu to begin his defence.
However, in his first appearance as his own counsel, Kanu challenged the court’s jurisdiction to continue hearing the case — a move swiftly overruled by Justice Omotosho. It took the intervention of one of the SANs, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, to persuade the judge to grant an adjournment. Dr. Ikpeazu pleaded for a short recess, noting that the withdrawal of Kanu’s legal team took effect that same morning, leaving the defendant unprepared to proceed immediately.
The request was not opposed by the prosecution team led by Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, prompting the judge to adjourn the case until Friday for continuation of defence proceedings.
Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021, had earlier filed a fresh motion personally signed by him, naming 23 individuals — including current and former governors, ministers, and security chiefs — as witnesses he intends to summon in his defence. He described the listed individuals as “vital and compellable witnesses” whose testimonies would help prove his innocence.
Among those Kanu intends to call are the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma; the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd); former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd); and former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, among others.
In his motion, dated October 21 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, Kanu asked the court to extend his initial six-day period for defence to 90 days to enable him to call and examine all witnesses, stating that their testimonies were essential to establishing his case.
With the new development, all eyes will be on Friday’s hearing as Kanu prepares to stand before the court — this time as both the defendant and his own counsel.
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