The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday, agreed to consult his legal advisers before opening his defence in the terrorism charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had again urged Kanu to seek proper legal guidance after he repeatedly insisted that the seven-count charge against him was invalid.
Although he had initially refused to proceed with his defence, Kanu eventually told the court he would need to confer with his legal team.
He listed his team as Nnaemeka Ejiofor, Aloy Ejimakor, Maxwell Okpara and Mandela Umegborogu.
The judge subsequently granted an adjournment until 7 November, marking the fourth time Kanu has been given an opportunity to open his defence or waive his right to do so.
Last month, Kanu had sacked his legal team, led by a former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), opting to defend himself.
He initially submitted a list of 23 witnesses he intended to call, including Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
He, however, later made a U-turn, insisting there was no need to defend himself as the charges against him were unknown to any valid law in Nigeria.
At the Wednesday’s proceedings, Kanu maintained ths same line of argument, saying no valid terrorism charge existed against him, insisting that the law under which he was being tried had been repealed.
He maintained that the prosecution failed to amend the charge as allegedly directed by the Supreme Court.
‘The Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act has been repealed. I cannot put up a defence under a repealed law’, he told the court.
The prosecution had closed its case on 19 June 2025 after calling five witnesses, with the court ruling on 26 September that a prima facie case had been established against Kanu.
However, he had twice failed to open his defence since then, citing non-availability of documents from former lawyers.
At Wednesday’s session, the Federal Government’s counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) urged the court to enforce its order requiring Kanu to either defend himself or waive his right.
But Justice Omotosho said that he would again ‘bend backward’ in the interest of justice to allow Kanu consult lawyers knowledgeable in criminal law.
