A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, one final opportunity to open his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial. Justice James Omotosho, presiding over the case on Wednesday, emphasised his duty to ensure the defendant is given every reasonable chance to present his case.
"We had adjourned till today for the defendant to put in his defence or be deemed closed. But I am bound to give him another opportunity to put in his defence. If he did not, I will deem him closed. I know that he is an Economist and not a lawyer. I will give the last opportunity to the defendant to put in his defence, failure of which he would be deemed closed," the judge said, before adjourning the matter till November 7.
The ruling followed an application by the prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), urging the court to foreclose Kanu's right to defence after he failed to utilise five out of the six days allotted by the court for his case.
"The court had on Tuesday adjourned till Wednesday for Kanu to enter a defence in his trial or be deemed to have waived his right to do so," Awomolo said, urging the judge to proceed to judgment.
Representing himself, Kanu addressed the court from the dock, maintaining his stance that the charges against him were invalid and that he had no case to answer.
Meanwhile, Justice Omotosho issued a warning to Kanu’s former lawyers, P. A. N. Ejiofor, Aloy Ejimakor, Dr. Maxwell Opara, and Prince Mandela Umegburu, who now act as his “consultants”. The caution came after Awomolo accused them of granting media interviews and making subtle social media posts regarding the case.
The four lawyers, present in court on Wednesday, confirmed their current role as consultants and introduced themselves accordingly.