The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday announced that he will henceforth represent himself in his ongoing trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja, after his lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), and other lawyers formally withdrew from the case.
Agabi, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, informed the court of his decision to withdraw his appearance for Kanu during Thursday’s proceedings. He explained that the IPOB leader had taken back his case file and opted to personally handle his defence.
Confirming the development from the dock, Kanu told the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, that he would no longer require legal representation and declined the court’s offer to assign him a lawyer.
In his first submission as his own counsel, Kanu challenged the court’s jurisdiction to continue hearing the seven-count terrorism-related charge filed against him by the Federal Government.
Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021, also filed a fresh motion seeking to summon 23 individuals — including sitting governors, ministers, and former security chiefs — as witnesses in his defence. He described them as “vital and compellable witnesses” and requested a 90-day period to present and conclude his defence, citing the number and calibre of witnesses involved.
Among those listed as witnesses are the Governors of Imo and Lagos States, Hope Uzodimma and Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd); former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd); former DSS Director-General, Yusuf Bichi; and ex-NIA DG, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
In the motion dated October 21 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, Kanu also requested that the court issue subpoenas compelling the attendance of all listed witnesses, whose testimonies he said would help establish his innocence.
Justice Omotosho has fixed Friday for the continuation of Kanu’s defence in the terrorism case.
