Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN), has withdrawn as lead counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in his ongoing terrorism trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Kanu is currently facing a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism, filed against him by the Federal Government.
When the case was called on Thursday, Agabi informed the court that he and his team would no longer be representing the IPOB leader, explaining that Kanu had decided to take over the case himself.
Following Agabi’s announcement, other Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) on the defence team also formally withdrew their representation.
Confirming the development, Kanu told the court he would represent himself for now, though he added that the arrangement might change later.
The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, asked Kanu whether the court should assign a lawyer to him, but the IPOB leader declined the offer.
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Kanu then proceeded to address the court directly, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction to continue with his trial.
Justice Omotosho had earlier granted Kanu six consecutive days, starting from October 23, to open and close his defence as part of an accelerated hearing order.
As part of his defence strategy, Kanu had previously listed several high-profile figures as potential witnesses, including former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, Minister of Works Dave Umahi, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), and former Minister of Defence Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), among others.
