Lead counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN), has withdrawn from representing him in the ongoing terrorism trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Kanu is currently facing a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism, filed against him by the Federal Government.

When the case came up on Thursday, Agabi informed the court that he and other members of the defence team would no longer be representing the IPOB leader, explaining that the defendant had chosen to take back the case from them.

In a similar move, all other Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) on Kanu’s legal team also announced their withdrawal from the case.

Confirming the development, Kanu told the court he would represent himself for now, though he noted that the arrangement could change later.

During the proceedings, Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the trial, asked whether a lawyer should be assigned to represent Kanu, but the defendant declined the offer.

The IPOB leader also made an oral submission, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction to try him.

Justice Omotosho had, on October 16, granted Kanu six consecutive days, beginning from October 23, to open and close his defence in line with the court’s earlier directive for an accelerated hearing.

The defendant had previously listed several high-profile individuals — including former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN); Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd); and former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) — as part of his proposed witnesses.

The case continues before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

More to come…

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