Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that his witnesses will come from across the world, including Ethiopia, Kenya, and the United States.
Kanu, who opted to defend himself in the alleged terrorism case filed against him by the Federal Government, made the disclosure on Friday before Justice James Omotosho.
He had, in a motion filed on October 21, listed the names of prominent Nigerians and foreigners he intended to call as witnesses. In the application he personally signed, the IPOB leader said he planned to call 23 witnesses, divided into two categories, including “ordinary but material witnesses” and others he described as “vital and compellable.”
Kanu, who recently disengaged his legal team led by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), told the court he was ready to conduct his own defence.
“I am Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. I stand for myself,” he said.
He, however, asked the court for an adjournment, explaining that his former lawyers had not handed over the case file to him. He also requested more access to his counsel while in custody.
“My lord, my counsels left the case yesterday, and I have not received the file from them. The few people that would have brought this were precluded from seeing me,” he said.
According to him, the current arrangement by the Department of State Services (DSS), which allows visitation for two hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, would not be enough to prepare his defence.
“That is not enough time because I have about 23 witnesses that will be coming from all parts of the world, from Ethiopia, Kenya, and they are also coming from the U.S. I will want the court to make an order so that these people can have access to me,” he said.
Responding, prosecution counsel Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) noted that the defendant had ample time to prepare since his no-case submission was dismissed. He said the prosecution had also been making efforts to serve Kanu’s listed witnesses.
Justice Omotosho, who expressed surprise over the claim that Kanu’s legal team withheld the case file, however, granted the defendant’s request for an adjournment to enable him to obtain the necessary documents.
The judge further directed the DSS to allow Kanu’s counsel access to him on non-working days, specifically Saturday and Monday, for the purpose of preparing his defence.