Court warns Nnamdi Kanu: Enter defence or lose right to do so

Story by Okafor Vivian

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has given the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, a final opportunity to open his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial or forfeit the right entirely.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Justice Omotosho emphasized that it was the court’s duty to provide the defendant every reasonable opportunity to present his case before proceeding to judgment.

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The warning followed an application by the prosecuting counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), who urged the court to foreclose Kanu’s right to defence after he failed to utilize five of the six days earlier allotted for that purpose.

Awomolo reminded the court that it had adjourned the previous day for Kanu to begin his defence but that he had again declined to do so. He further noted that Kanu insisted there were no valid charges against him, urging the court to close his case and proceed to judgment.

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In response, Kanu, who represented himself, reiterated from the dock that he would not open any defence, maintaining that the charges brought against him were invalid and that the trial should not proceed.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter, granting Kanu one final chance to enter his defence before the court decides on the next step in the long-running case.

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