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 risk forfeiting the right to do so.
Gatekeepers News reports that presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, issued the warning on Wednesday while ruling on an application by the prosecution seeking to foreclose Kanu’s defence after he failed to utilise the time allotted by the court.
“It is my duty as a judge to accord the defendant sufficient opportunity to put in his defence,” Justice Omotosho said, stressing that the court would not continue to indulge unnecessary delays.
At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, informed the court that Kanu had already spent five out of six days allocated to him to conduct his defence but had yet to take any steps to do so.
Awomolo recalled that the court had, on Tuesday, adjourned the matter to Wednesday for Kanu to open his defence or be deemed to have waived his right. However, at the resumed session, the defendant once again declined to proceed.
“The defendant has made it clear that he would not enter any defence because he believes there is no valid charge against him,” Awomolo said, urging the court to foreclose the defence and fix a date for judgment.
Addressing the court from the dock, Kanu, who represented himself, reaffirmed his position, insisting that he could not be compelled to defend himself against what he described as “an invalid and incompetent charge.”
Justice Omotosho thereafter ruled that the court would grant the IPOB leader one final opportunity to enter his defence before taking further action in the matter.
