The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to Friday, October 24, to allow him time to open his defence.
The adjournment followed the sudden withdrawal of Kanu’s entire legal team, led by Kanu Agabi (SAN), during Thursday’s proceedings.
Agabi informed the court that he and other Senior Advocates were withdrawing from the case because “the defendant has taken this case back from us, and we respect that.”
Following the announcement, Justice James Omotosho asked Kanu to confirm the development. Kanu acknowledged that he had dismissed all his lawyers and expressed readiness to conduct his defence personally.
The judge then directed all remaining members of the defence team, except the withdrawing SANs, to vacate the courtroom.
When invited to open his defence, Kanu began to challenge the court’s jurisdiction to continue the trial, but the judge overruled him and insisted that the proceedings must go on.
However, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), one of the withdrawing lawyers, appealed to the court to grant Kanu some time to compose himself before continuing with his defence.
The prosecution did not object to the plea, prompting Justice Omotosho to adjourn the case until Friday, October 24, for the IPOB leader to begin his defence.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
