IPOB: Drama As Nnamdi Kanu Disowns Lawyer, Judge Bars Sister In-Law

There was a mild drama on Tuesday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, as detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, disowned a lawyer who claimed to be representing him.

Kanu, who is facing terrorism-related charges, appeared before the court for the continuation of his trial.

However, at Tuesday’s proceedings, the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, drew the attention of parties to a letter from one Charles Ude, who claimed to be counsel on record for the defendant.

However, Kanu’s defence team, led by Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, denied knowing Ude, while the IPOB leader also affirmed their position, insisting that Agabi remained his counsel.

Justice Omotosho also addressed the issue of the overcrowded defence team. According to him, only 16 of the 26 lawyers listed are to be allowed, citing a previous agreement.

They further threatened to move the proceedings online if decorum was not maintained in the case.

“I don’t want to be pushed to take the case virtually; we have the facility,” the judge warned.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a woman named Favour Kanu, said to be the wife of Kanu’s brother, was accused of recording court proceedings during a previous sitting and allegedly publishing restricted content online.

The judge recounted how he had previously warned her but decided not to charge her for contempt.

Kanu appealed to the judge on behalf of the woman for forgiveness, quoting the Bible and admitting, “I owe them an apology.”

The judge then called Favour, who claimed not to know that the court was still in session. She claimed that she stopped recording immediately after the warning.

“I didn’t know the court was still sitting. The moment you cautioned me, I stopped because it was a livestream,” she said.

The judge, while listening to both explanations, temporarily excused Favour from attending the next three sittings, reiterating the need for order and respect for the court’s process.

“We must do things properly. Justice will be done,” he said.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, raised concerns about a motion served on them for the release of certain exhibits tendered in court.

He noted the prosecution objected only to the release of non-perishable items.

During cross-examination of the first prosecution witness (identified as AAA), the defence counsel, Agabi, the witness admitted knowing little about the details of the 15-count charge, including those that had reportedly been struck out by the court.

The witness admitted that he was aware of IPOB’s role in enforcing Monday sit-at-home orders, which the defence team suggested was among the charges that had been dismissed.

Agabi highlighted that several serious terrorism-related allegations, including disruption of elections and attacks on federal property, were part of the struck-out charges, a point the witness said he was largely unaware of.

During re-examination, Awomolo asked the witness what he understood by “agitation” in the context of Kanu’s actions.

The witness responded that the defendant was pushing for the secession of parts of Nigeria.

IPOB: Drama As Nnamdi Kanu Disowns Lawyer, Judge Bars Sister In-Law is first published on The Whistler Newspaper