The detained leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, could not begin his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.
Kanu said he was unable to start because his former lawyer had not returned his case file, which he needed to prepare his defence properly.
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He was supposed to open his defence on Thursday, but he announced that he had dismissed his legal team, led by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN). He then asked the court to postpone the case until Friday to give him more time.
When the case resumed on Friday, the government’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), reminded the court that the matter was fixed for Kanu to start his defence.
However, Kanu told the court he still couldn’t proceed because his old legal team had not given him his case file. He said those who were supposed to deliver the file to him at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility did not do so.
He asked the court to adjourn the trial until Monday, October 27, so that he could get his file and study it.
Kanu also said he expected witnesses from different countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Kenya, and Ethiopia, to testify for him. He requested that the court order the DSS to allow him to meet with his visitors even on Saturday and Sunday to prepare his defence.
The prosecution did not oppose the request. As a result, Justice James Omotosho ordered the DSS to allow Kanu to receive visitors over the weekend.
The judge then adjourned the case to October 27, warning that the six days given to Kanu to conduct his defence — which started on October 23 — would not be extended.