Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has informed a Nigerian court that he has witnesses arriving from several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Ethiopia, and Kenya, to testify in his defence.
Kanu is facing terrorism-related charges, after the federal government accused him of inciting violence through IPOB activities and calling for the secession of Nigeria’s south-east region.
On Thursday, the IPOB leader disengaged his legal team, led by Kanu Agabi, SAN, prompting the lawyers to formally withdraw their representation. Kanu informed the court of his decision to personally conduct his defence, after which Justice James Omotosho, the presiding judge, scheduled October 24 for the official commencement of the case.
At the resumed sitting on Friday, Kanu stated that he could not proceed immediately because he had not yet received his case file. He explained that previous attempts to deliver the file had been blocked by authorities, and requested additional time over the weekend to review the documents in preparation for Monday’s hearing.
Kanu also petitioned the court to direct the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow daily visitation instead of the current schedule, which limits access to two hours every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. He argued that this would give him sufficient time to prepare adequately for his defence.
In addition, Kanu requested that the court permit foreign witnesses to access the DSS facility, emphasizing that of the 23 witnesses he intends to call, several will be coming from abroad. “I will want the court to make an order so that these people can have access to me,” he told the court.
The development underscores the international dimension of Kanu’s trial and the reliance on cross-border witnesses to substantiate his defence. Observers note that the IPOB leader’s decision to represent himself personally is unusual in high-profile Nigerian legal cases, highlighting his determination to actively steer the proceedings.
The trial continues to attract attention from both local and international media, with Kanu’s legal strategy and access to witnesses likely to shape the next phase of the hearing.
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