The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, one final opportunity to enter his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial failing which his case will be deemed closed.
Justice James Omotosho, presiding over the matter, stated on Wednesday that it was the court’s duty to give Kanu sufficient opportunity to defend himself, despite his repeated refusal to do so.
“We had adjourned till today for the defendant to put in his defence or be deemed closed. But I am bound to give him another opportunity,” the judge said.
“If he does not, I will deem him closed. I know that he is an economist and not a lawyer. I will give the last opportunity to the defendant to put in his defence, failure of which he would be deemed closed,” he added before adjourning the matter till November 7.
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The ruling followed an application by the prosecuting counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), who urged the court to foreclose the defence after Kanu failed to utilize five of the six days allotted for his case.
Awomolo reminded the court that on Tuesday, it had ordered Kanu to open his defence but that the defendant again refused, insisting there was no valid charge against him.
He therefore prayed the court to deem the defence closed and proceed to judgment.
During the session, Kanu, who chose to represent himself, maintained from the dock that he would not present any defence because “there is no valid charge” against him.
Meanwhile, Justice Omotosho cautioned Kanu’s former lawyers now referred to as his consultants to conduct themselves professionally and refrain from making public comments or social media posts related to the case.
Those cautioned include Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Aloy Ejimakor, Dr. Maxwell Opara, and Prince Mandela Umegboro, who were present in court and introduced themselves as consultants to the defendant.
The judge issued the warning following a complaint from Awomolo, who accused the lawyers of granting media interviews and making indirect public statements about ongoing proceedings.
