A setback occurred Thursday in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the incarcerated leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, when his legal team abruptly withdrew from the case. Kanu Agabi (SAN), the former Attorney General of the Federation, led the team.
Kanu, who was supposed to begin his defense in the current terrorism trial, reportedly threw out his whole Senior Advocate team in court.
When announcing the withdrawal, Agabi informed Justice James Omotosho that Kanu’s insistence on managing his own defense served as the basis for their choice.
Agabi stated, “We respect the defendant’s decision to reclaim this case from us, which is why we are withdrawing.”
In addition to him, Onyechi Ikpeazu, Joseph Akubo, Paul Erokoro, Emeka Etiaba, and another senior attorney withdrew.
Kanu responded that he was prepared to represent himself and that he had fired all of his attorneys.
All members of the legal team, with the exception of the SANs, were instructed by Justice Omotosho to leave the courtroom right away.
The judge turned and gave the defendant instructions to start his defense. However, Kanu immediately began to argue against the court’s authority to continue hearing the case.
He was quickly overruled by Justice Omotosho, who demanded that he continue with his defense.
Reminding the court that their withdrawal only became effective that morning, Ikpeazu (SAN) stepped in at this point. The court should give Kanu some time to “collect his thoughts and compose himself for the task ahead,” he pleaded.
The proposal was not resisted by the prosecutor.
As a result, Justice Omotosho postponed the case to Friday, October 24, so that Kanu could formally begin his defense.
