Kanu Says no need to call witnesses, claims charges are invalid
Wellington Jopelo.
The detained leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has changed his mind about calling witnesses in his ongoing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu is facing seven terrorism charges filed by the Federal Government.
Last week, he asked the court to postpone the case because his former lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), had not yet given him his case file.
In an earlier request to the court, Kanu had said he was ready to start his defence and wanted to bring witnesses to testify for him.
But when the case resumed on Monday, Kanu told the court that after looking through his case file, he found that there was no valid charge against him.
He argued that the charges were unlawful and that the government had not proved any case against him, so there was no need to continue with his defence.
The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, asked Kanu to write down his position and send it to the prosecution. He also advised Kanu to speak with criminal law experts to understand what his decision could mean for the case.
The judge then adjourned the case to November 4, 5, and 6, when both sides will present their final written arguments before the court gives its ruling.