The trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, took a dramatic turn on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja as his legal team withdrew from the case.
At the resumed hearing, lead counsel Kanu Agabi (SAN) and other Senior Advocates representing the detained pro-Biafra agitator informed the court that Kanu had taken over the case from them, prompting their withdrawal from further representation.
Agabi told Justice James Omotosho that all SANs on the defence team were stepping aside based on the defendant’s decision.
Responding, Kanu told the court he would be representing himself “for now”, adding that the arrangement could change later in the ongoing trial over alleged terrorism-related offences.
When asked by Justice Omotosho whether he required a new lawyer to be assigned to him, Kanu declined.
In his oral submission, he insisted that the court lacks jurisdiction to prosecute him.
