Nnamdi Kanu’s Legal Team Collapses, as Lawyers, SANs Withdraw from Case

…Kanu still insists Nigerian court lacks jurisdiction to try him

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday announced the disengagement of his legal team led by former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The dramatic development unfolded before Justice James Omotosho as Kanu declared his intention to defend himself in his ongoing terrorism trial. Following his announcement, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) on the defence team, including Chief Agabi, formally withdrew their appearance from the case.

READ ALSO: Alleged Terrorism: NMA Panel Report Stalls Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial

Chief Agabi, a former AGF, informed the court that he would no longer be representing the IPOB leader, explaining that the defendant had chosen to take over his own defence. His withdrawal was immediately followed by similar notices from other senior members of the defence team.

Kanu, who was brought to court by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), confirmed to the judge that he would be representing himself for now. However, he added that the position might change later. Justice Omotosho offered to assign a lawyer to him, but Kanu declined the offer.

READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu Set to Open Defense, Names Wike, Sanwo-Olu, Buratai as Witnesses

In his oral submission, Kanu challenged the jurisdiction of the court to continue his trial, insisting that the charges against him were politically motivated and unconstitutional.

Justice Omotosho had earlier, on October 16, granted the defendant six consecutive days — beginning from October 23 — to open and close his defence as part of an accelerated hearing schedule.

In a motion he personally signed and filed on October 21, Kanu listed several high-profile figures as witnesses in his defence. The motion, titled “Notice of Number and Names of Witnesses to be Called by the Defendant and Request for Witness Summons/Subpoena and the Variation of the Time Within Which to Defend the Counts/Charges against the Defendant”, sought permission to subpoena multiple current and former government officials.

Among those named as “compellable witnesses” are:

Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami;

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike;

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi;

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu;

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma;

READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu Insists Nigerian Court Lacks Jurisdiction as Govt Defends Trial

Former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd);

Former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd);

Former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar; and

Former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi.

The IPOB leader also hinted at additional witnesses whose identities he did not disclose, pledging to “provide the sworn statements of all voluntary witnesses to this honourable court” and to “notify the prosecution within a reasonable time.”

Pinnacle Daily learnt that Kanu held a private consultation with his legal team at the Federal High Court on Wednesday before Thursday’s open court disengagement.