By Adegbaju Temitope 

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he intends to call witnesses from Ethiopia, Kenya, the United States and other parts of the world in his defence against terrorism charges brought by the Federal Government.

Kanu, who has opted to personally conduct his defence, informed Justice James Omotosho that he plans to present 23 witnesses divided into two categories, “ordinary but material witnesses” and “vital and compellable witnesses”, who he argued should be summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.

He subsequently asked the court to grant a 90-day window for him to conclude his defence due to the volume and geographical spread of the witnesses.

The IPOB leader also disclosed that his legal team, led until Thursday by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, had withdrawn from the case, and that he was yet to receive his case file.

He therefore requested an adjournment to enable him to properly prepare.

Kanu further complained that the restricted access granted to him by the Department of State Services (DSS), two hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, would not allow sufficient time for consultation with his legal advisers, considering the complexity of the case.

He sought an order of the court to enable his witnesses and counsel unrestricted access for pre-trial preparations.

Responding, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, who represented the Federal Government, said the prosecution was ready to proceed, noting that the defendant had been given ample time to prepare since his no-case submission was dismissed.

He also reminded the court of an existing order directing Kanu to conduct his defence within six days, urging the court to maintain the schedule.

Justice Omotosho, while expressing surprise at the claim that the defence team had withheld the case file, agreed to grant a short adjournment in the interest of justice.

He also ordered the DSS to provide additional access for consultations on Saturdays and Mondays, and to make another facility available for such engagements.

The judge cautioned that the court would not tolerate unnecessary delays, noting that he had created morning and afternoon sessions to fast-track the matter, while ensuring that other cases before him did not suffer.

“I will beg the defendant in the name of Almighty God to let us make use of this opportunity… Not making use of this opportunity will deny other people their trial,” Justice Omotosho said, pointing to other defendants including Chinese nationals and a Zimbabwean woman still in detention, who were awaiting their own hearings.

The court adjourned proceedings until Monday, October 27, for Kanu to open his defence.

As the matter was stood down, Kanu attempted to address the court further, but the judge declined and called the next case.