The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Maxi Nnamdi Kanu, caused a major stir in the ongoing terrorism trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday as he fired his legal team.
Kanu’s lead counsel and former Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Mr. Kanu Agabi, applied to withdraw his representation in the trial.
The IPOB leader is facing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism, an action filed against him by the Federal Government.
When the matter was called on Thursday, Agabi informed the court that he would no longer be representing the IPOB leader, adding that the defendant had decided to take back the case from them.
In the same manner, all the Senior Advocates of Nigeria involved in the case also announced their withdrawal from the case.
Nnamdi Kanu confirmed the development and told the court that he would be representing himself for now. He, however, noted that the position might change later.
The IPOB leader flatly rejected a suggestion by the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, who asked whether he should assign a lawyer to represent him.
Meanwhile, addressing the court orally to open his defence, Kanu argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to try him.
It would be recalled that Justice Omotosho had, on October 16, granted the defendant six consecutive days, beginning from October 23, to open and close his defence in view of the accelerated hearing earlier granted in the case.
Kanu had listed former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd); a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), and others as part of his witnesses.
Outside the court, Mr. Kanu Agabi told judicial correspondents that the defendant had the right to dump his legal team, wishing him well as he begins to defend himself in the trial.
