Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), says his witnesses will be coming from all parts of the world, including Ethiopia, Kenya and the United States (U.S.).
Kanu, who opted to defend himself in the ongoing alleged terrorism trial preferred against him by the Federal Government, told Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court on Friday in Abuja.
According to reports that Kanu, in a motion filed on Oct. 21, listed the names of prominent Nigerians and foreigners he intended to call as witnesses to defend himself.
Kanu, in the application he personally signed, informed the court of his plan to call a total of 23 witnesses divided into two categories.
The first category, he said, would be those he called “ordinary but material witnesses”.
He further informed the court that his second category of witnesses would be “vital and compellable” and shall be “summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.”
He prayed the court that, in view of the number of witnesses he intended to call, the court should consider granting a 90-day timeframe to enable him to conclude his defence.
The leader of the IPOB, however, disengaged his legal team led by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice on Thursday.
He told the court he was ready to defend himself.
When the case was called on Friday, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, represented the FG, and Kanu, who spoke from the dock, announced his appearance for himself.
Awomolo then told the court that the case was scheduled for defence and that they were ready to proceed. But Kanu said he was not prepared to commence his defence.
He told the court that his disengaged lawyers were yet to hand over the case file to him.
The IPOB leader then urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable him to do the needful.
Kanu also told the court that the three-day weekly visit to him at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility would no longer be enough for him to prepare his defence, considering the number of his witnesses, who would be coming across the world.
When Justice Omotosho asked him what the visiting days and times were, he said, “Two hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”
According to Kanu, that is not enough because I have about 23 witnesses that will be coming all parts of the world, from Ethiopia, Kenya, and thecoming from U.S.
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