Following his sudden sacking of his legal team on Thursday, the planned commencement of defence by detained self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been stalled.

Kanu was scheduled to open his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial on Thursday.

When the case was called, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who had led Kanu’s legal team until Thursday, announced his decision, with other Senior Advocates in the team, to withdraw from the case.

Agabi explained that the reason for their withdrawal “is because the defendant has taken this case back from us and we respect that.”

He provided the names of the other SANs who are withdrawing, including Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Joseph Akubo (SAN), Paul Erokoro (SAN), Emeka Etiaba (SAN), and one other.

Following Agabi’s announcement, Justice James Omotosho turned to Kanu, who was in the dock, for his response.

Kanu confirmed sacking all his lawyers and told the court that he was willing and ready to conduct his own case.

Justice Omotosho then ordered all other members of the defendant’s legal team, except the senior advocates, to vacate the courtroom immediately.

The judge then turned to the defendant and asked him to open his case.

Kanu began arguing about the court’s jurisdiction to further conduct his trial. He was subsequently overruled by the judge, who insisted that he must proceed with his defence.

At that point, Ikpeazu intervened and drew the attention of the court to the fact that their (Kanu’s lawyers’) withdrawal took effect on the morning of Thursday.

He prayed the court to grant Kanu some time to gather his thoughts and compose himself for the task ahead.

The prosecuting lawyer did not object, following which Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until Friday, October 24, for Kanu to open his defence.

The Guardian reported that Kanu recently listed former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and other top political and security figures as witnesses in his terrorism trial.

The motion, filed on October 21 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, was addressed to Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In the motion entitled ‘Notice of Number and Names of Witnesses to be Called by the Defendant’, Kanu seeks to call 23 witnesses, including international experts, state governors, military generals and former intelligence officials. He divided the witnesses into two categories: voluntary but material witnesses and vital compellable witnesses to be subpoenaed under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.