Proceedings in the terrorism trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, took a dramatic turn on Monday, as the trial judge resorted to begging the defendant “in the name of God Almighty to consult properly,” before proceeding to defend himself.
Noting that Kanu had earlier fired his lawyers and opted to defend himself, Justice James Omotosho stressed that he needed to consult legal experts because “this is not economics; this is criminal prosecution.”
Kanu is being prosecuted on seven counts of terrorism before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court had on Friday adjourned till Monday for him to open his defence, after Kanu had submitted a list of 23 witnesses he intended to call.
The IPOB leader expressed readiness to open his defence in a written application to the court, in which he indicated his intention to call witnesses and requested the issuance of witness summons.