Abuja, Nigeria – In a dramatic turn at the Federal High Court, detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, told the court on Thursday that he will represent himself going forward after his lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), and the rest of his Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) legal team formally withdrew from the case.
Agabi informed the court earlier in the session that Kanu had taken over the conduct of his defence, prompting the team’s withdrawal. “The defendant has chosen to represent himself and we respect that,” Agabi stated. Kanu then confirmed the withdrawal in open court and told the judge: “For now, I will be defending myself.” He declined the judge’s offer to appoint another lawyer for him.
Once Kanu assumed the role of self-representation, he began challenging the court’s jurisdiction over his trial. The presiding judge, James Omotosho, overruled the jurisdiction argument and demanded that the defence proceed. The hearing was then adjourned until Friday to allow Kanu time to prepare.
Kanu’s decision to fire his legal team and defend himself comes amid a high-stakes trial where he is facing charges relating to alleged terrorism and treasonable felony for his leadership of IPOB and calls for the Southeast region’s secession.
No public comment from the prosecution or from the court has clarified how Kanu’s self-representation will affect the schedule or conduct of the trial.