In a dramatic turn at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, announced on Thursday that he would personally defend himself after his entire legal team withdrew from his ongoing trial. The team, led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), formally withdrew, stating that Kanu had "taken the case back from them."
Kanu informed the court that he would represent himself for the time being but left open the possibility of changing this decision later. When the judge offered to assign new legal representation, Kanu politely declined the offer, signaling his firm intent to personally handle his defense.
Defending himself orally in court, Kanu challenged the jurisdiction of the court to try him, adding a significant new dynamic to the long-running case. He is facing charges related to treasonable felony and terrorism-related offenses, charges he continues to strongly contest.
This development follows a private consultation between Kanu and his legal team, and the court had recently declared him fit to continue trial after a medical report confirmed his health condition. Additionally, Kanu has filed a motion listing 23 witnesses he intends to call in his defense, including notable figures, and has requested a 90-day timeframe to conclude his case due to the number of witnesses.
The withdrawal of all Senior Advocates of Nigeria from his defense and Kanu’s decision to take charge of his legal proceedings mark a pivotal moment in the trial, seen by many as a strategic and bold move by the IPOB leader.