- Kanu requested the court to grant him a brief adjournment until Friday
- the court to adjourn the matter until Monday, October 27
- The judge then adjourned the case until October 27 for the opening of the defence
The detained leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday failed to open his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Kanu informed the court he was unable to proceed because he had not received his case file, which he needed to review in order to properly prepare for his defence.
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This development followed Thursday’s proceedings, during which Kanu dismissed his legal team, formerly led by ex-Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN). After discharging his lawyers, Kanu requested the court to grant him a brief adjournment until Friday.
At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) reminded the court that the day’s session was set aside for the defendant to open his defence. However, Kanu, who announced that he would now represent himself, said he was not ready to proceed as he had not been granted access to his case file.
He explained that the individuals meant to deliver the file to him in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) had been unable to reach him. Kanu therefore asked the court to adjourn the matter until Monday, October 27, to allow him time to review the documents.
The IPOB leader further informed the court that he expected witnesses from several countries — including the United Kingdom, the United States, Kenya, and Ethiopia — and requested that the DSS permit him to meet with visitors even on weekends to prepare for his defence.
Prosecutor Awomolo raised no objections, and Justice Omotosho subsequently directed the DSS to allow Kanu to receive visitors on Saturday and Sunday.
The judge then adjourned the case until October 27 for the opening of the defence, warning that the six-day window allocated to Kanu for his defence, which started on October 23, would not be extended.
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