Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Thursday, announced the disengagement of his legal team led by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu, who told Justice James Omotosho at the resumed hearing, said he was willing to defend himself.
Following the IPOB leader’s decision, all the senior advocates in the team, including Chief Agabi, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), withdrew their continuous appearance in the case.
Against this development, Kanu, who is currently addressing the court from the dock, challenged the jurisdiction of the court to try him.
Kanu had, in a motion he personally signed and filed on October 21, listed former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and others as his witnesses in his ongoing alleged terrorism trial.
The motion is entitled:: “Notice of Number and Names of Witnesses to be Called by the Defendant and Request for Witness Summons/Subpoena and the Variation of the Time Within Which to Defend the Counts/Charges against the Defendant.”
It listed many dignitaries as witnesses.
Among those Kanu listed as “compellable witnesses” are the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike; a former Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Theophilus Danjuma and a former Chief of Army Staff,retired Gen Tukur Buratai .
Others are Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; the immediate-past Governor of Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu; the immediate-past Director-General (DG), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar.
Others are former DG of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi, and several witnesses whose identities he didn’t reveal.
Kanu, in the motion, promised to “provide the sworn statements of all voluntary witnesses to this honourable court, and to notify the prosecution within a reasonable time.”
The IPOB leader held his private consultation with his legal team at the FHC in Abuja on Wednesday.
Kanu, who was brought to court by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), met with members of his legal team in Justice James Omotosho’s court as earlier ordered.
