Nnamdi Kanu's lawyers withdraw from his ongoing court case as he opts to represent himself

LAWYERS representing Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) leader Nnamdi Kanu in his ongoing treason trial have applied to withdraw their representation before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a dramatic twist to the controversial trial, Kanu Agabi, former attorney-general of the federation and lead counsel to Mr Kanu has applied to withdraw his representation in the ongoing terrorism trial. Mr Kanu is facing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism, filed against him by the Nigerian federal government.

Highly controversial, Mr Kanu has been campaigning for the recreation of the independent republic of Biafra which broke away from Nigeria between July 1967 and January 1970 during the civil war. His campaign, which has led to the phenomenal growth of Ipob, has set him at odds with the Nigerian government who had him arrested and put on trial for treason.

While the case was still pending, Mr Kanu was granted bail in April 2017 on health grounds but skipped his bail after flouting the conditions given to him by the court and fled Nigeria. However, in a dramatic development in June 2021, Mr Kanu was abducted by security agents in Kenya and flown to Nigeria, where he was handed over to the State Security Service.

Since then, his case has been ongoing in the Federal High Court in Abuja but earlier today, things took a dramatic twist when Mr 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. Similarly, all the senior advocates of Nigeria involved in the case also announced their withdrawal from the case.

Confirming the development, Mr Kanu told the court that he would be representing himself for now but noted that the position might change later. Trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, asked whether he should assign a lawyer to represent Mr Kanu but the defendant declined.

Then, addressing the court as he opened his defence, Mr Kanu argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to try him. On October 16, Justice Omotosho had granted Mr Kanu six consecutive days, beginning from October 23, to open and close his defence in view of the accelerated hearing earlier granted in the case.