LEADER of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday, October 24, failed to open his defence for the second time at the Federal High Court in Abuja in the alleged terrorism trial.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Kanu, who had on Thursday disengaged his team of lawyers and opted to defend himself, told Justice James Omotosho, upon resumed hearing, that his disengaged lawyers were yet to hand over the case file to him.
“My lord, my Counsel left the case yesterday, and I have not received the file from them. The few people that would have brought this were precluded from seeing me.”
He consequently sought an adjournment to enable him to prepare for his defence.
Although Counsel for the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), did not oppose the application, he prayed the court to stand by the standing order directing Kanu to defend himself within six days.
Awomolo said: “I’m aware that there is a standing order for the defendant to defend himself within six days. The defendant wasted yesterday. This is the second day, my lord.
“I urge your lordship to keep to the standing order.”
Justice Omotosho, who begged Kanu to make judicious use of the opportunity offered to him in line with Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to defend himself, however, said he cannot be enforced to do so if he decides to waive the right.
The Judge adjourned the matter until Monday, October 27, for Kanu to open his defence.
Published:
Related articles
Recent articles
