Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, has announced that his witnesses for the ongoing alleged terrorism trial will come from across the globe, including Ethiopia, Kenya, and the United States.
Kanu, who has opted to represent himself in the trial preferred against him by the Federal Government, informed Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court on Friday in Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Kanu, in a motion filed on October 21, provided a list of prominent Nigerians and foreigners he intends to call as witnesses to defend himself.
In the application personally signed by him, Kanu disclosed plans to call a total of 23 witnesses, divided into two categories.
He explained that the first group would consist of “ordinary but material witnesses,” while the second category would include “vital and compellable” witnesses to be “summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.”
He also requested the court to grant him a 90-day period to conclude his defence, citing the number of witnesses he plans to call.
On Thursday, Kanu disengaged his legal team led by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, declaring that he was ready to defend himself.
When the case resumed on Friday, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, represented the Federal Government, while Kanu, speaking from the dock, announced, “I am Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. I stand for myself.”
Awomolo informed the court that the case was scheduled for defence and that the prosecution was ready to proceed.
However, Kanu said he was not yet prepared to commence, explaining that his former lawyers had not handed over the case file.
“My lord, my counsel left the case yesterday, and I have not received the file from them,” Kanu told the court. “The few people that would have brought this were precluded from seeing me.”
He therefore urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable him to prepare. Kanu also noted that the current three-day weekly visiting schedule at the Department of State Services facility, “Two hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday”—was insufficient for his preparation, given the international scope of his witnesses.
“I will want the court to make an order so that these people can have access to me,” Kanu added. When asked if these individuals were among those listed in his motion, he confirmed, “They are part of the witnesses listed, my lord.”
Awomolo countered that Kanu had ample time to prepare following the failure of his no-case submission.
He also stated that the court bailiff had been serving subpoenas to the listed witnesses and expressed surprise at Kanu’s claim regarding the international witnesses.
While not opposing Kanu’s adjournment request, Awomolo urged the court to maintain the standing order directing Kanu to defend himself within six days, noting that the defendant had already “wasted yesterday” and this was now the second day.
Justice Omotosho expressed surprise at Kanu’s statement regarding the case file, especially given Chief Agabi’s involvement. “I am surprised that Chief Agabi will keep the file to himself, having announced yesterday that the defendant will conduct the trial himself and told the counsel to leave,” the judge said.
He clarified that the issue raised previously was related to jurisdiction, not the case file.
The judge acknowledged that both parties had agreed to an accelerated hearing schedule and emphasized that the prosecution had been forewarned about the timeline.
“In the interest of justice and a fair hearing, having raised the issue of the file this morning, though it is strange that Agabi will not release the file, I will grant an adjournment for the file to be given to the defendant,” Justice Omotosho said.
The judge also approved Kanu’s request to meet with his counsel on non-working days, ordering the DSS to allow access on Saturday and Monday for trial preparation.
“This court is here to do justice, and I will do justice to everybody,” Justice Omotosho stressed, reminding Kanu that Section 36 of the Constitution gives a defendant the right to self-representation but does not compel him to use it.
He highlighted the court’s efforts to ensure an expeditious hearing, including creating morning and afternoon sessions.
The judge further noted that delays in Kanu’s trial should not affect other matters, citing the presence of Chinese and Zimbabwean defendants as examples.
The court also addressed previous disruptions, including a vacated session on October 22 to allow private consultation between Kanu and his legal team.
Justice Omotosho warned that appropriate legal provisions would be invoked if the trial continued to face unnecessary delays.
Consequently, the judge ordered the DSS to provide a separate facility for Kanu and his counsel to meet and adjourned the matter until October 27 for Kanu to open his defence.
Shortly after the adjournment, Kanu expressed a desire to speak, but the judge directed that another case be called.
