The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday, surprised the Federal High Court in Abuja when he declared that he would conduct his own defense after his entire legal team withdrew from the case.
Lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), told the court that he and other Senior Advocates of Nigeria representing Kanu had filed to withdraw from the case, noting that the defendant had “taken the case back from them.”
Confirming this, Nnamdi Kanu informed the court that he would handle his defense personally for the time being. “I will be representing myself for now,” he said, adding, “that might change later.”
When the presiding judge asked if he wanted the court to appoint a lawyer for him, Kanu turned down the offer.
Proceeding to make oral arguments on his own behalf, the IPOB leader insisted that the court had no jurisdiction to try him.
The unexpected twist added another dramatic layer to the prolonged trial of the separatist leader, who faces charges of treasonable felony and terrorism-related offences.
