Lead counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, Kanu Agabi, has filed to withdraw from representing the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), stating that the defendant had taken the case back from them.
All the Senior Advocates of Nigeria on the defence team have also withdrawn from the case, a move Nnamdi Kanu personally confirmed in court.
Kanu informed the court that he would be representing himself for the time being, though that could change later. When the judge offered to assign him a lawyer, he declined.
Arguing orally in his defence, Kanu maintained that the court lacks the jurisdiction to try him.
The IPOB leader appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday to begin his defence in the terrorism-related suit filed against him by the Federal Government, presided over by Justice James Omotosho.
Kanu had named several individuals—including former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd); and former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd)—among his proposed witnesses.
Details Later…