Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Thursday announced the disengagement of his legal team, led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu, who informed Justice James Omotosho at the resumed hearing, stated that he was willing to defend himself in the ongoing case.
Following his decision, all senior advocates in the defence team, including Chief Agabi, a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), formally withdrew their appearance from the trial.
In light of this development, Kanu, while addressing the court from the dock, challenged the jurisdiction of the court to try him.
It was reported that Kanu had, in a motion he personally signed and filed on Oct. 21, listed former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and others as witnesses in his ongoing terrorism trial.
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,” listed several dignitaries as witnesses.
Among those Kanu described as “compellable witnesses” are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Theophilus Danjuma; and former Chief of Army Staff, retired Gen. Tukur Buratai.
Others include Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; and former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar.
He also named the former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, and several others whose identities were not disclosed.
In the motion, Kanu pledged to “provide the sworn statements of all voluntary witnesses to this honourable court, and to notify the prosecution within a reasonable time.”
The IPOB leader had earlier held a private consultation with his legal team at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.
Kanu, who was brought to court by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), met with his lawyers in the courtroom of Justice Omotosho as earlier ordered by the court.
