Court gives Nnamdi Kanu ‘final chance’ to put in defence
By Jeffrey Agbo
A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, gave the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu another opportunity to either enter his defence in the ongoing alleged terrorism trial or be foreclosed.
Justice James Omotosho said he has the duty as a judge to accord Kanu sufficient opportunity to put in his defence in the terrorism charge instituted against him.
It came just a day after the judge gave Kanu till today to open his defence, a scenario that has repeatedly played out in the last one month in the case.
The judge has severally adjourned the case in the last one month to keep the window of defence open, while Kanu continues to stand his ground that there is no valid charge against him to defend.
“We had adjourned till today for the defendant to put in his defence or be deemed closed,” Omotosho said in a ruling.
“But I am bound to give him another opportunity to put in his defence. 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 which he would be deemed closed,” the judge said and adjourned till Friday (7 November).
The ruling was on an application by the prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), praying the court to foreclose Kanu’s defence on Tuesday.
After the judge’s advice, Kanu said he would need to consult with his four legal consultants, whom he named as Nnaemeka Ejiofor, Aloy Ejimakor, Maxwell Okpara and Mandela Umegborogu.
Based on this, the judge again urged him to consult lawyers conversant with criminal law to aid his defence. The judge adjourned till Friday (7 November).
Meanwhile, following a complaint by Awomolo, Justice Omotosho cautioned Kanu’s former lawyers in the case, who now refer to themselves as his consultants, to conduct themselves within the ethics of the legal profession.
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