Detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday, October 23, 2025, defended himself in court after his legal team, led by former attorney-general of the federation Kanu Agabi (SAN), withdrew from representing him.
Agabi informed the federal high court in Abuja that the defendant had decided to take back the case from his legal team.
Following his announcement, all other Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) on the defence team including Onyechi Ikpeazu, Joseph Akubo, Paul Erokoro, Emeka Etiaba, and one other also withdrew from the case.
Kanu confirmed the development in court, telling Justice James Omotosho that he would represent himself for now, though that could change later. When asked if he wanted the court to assign him a lawyer, he declined.
After confirming the withdrawal of Kanu’s lawyers, Justice Omotosho ordered all other members of the defence team present in court, except the SANs, to vacate the courtroom immediately.
The judge then turned to the defendant and asked him to open his case.
Kanu commenced arguing about the jurisdiction of the court to further conduct his trial, but was subsequently overruled by the judge, who insisted that he must proceed with his defence.
At that point, Ikpeazu intervened and drew the court’s attention to the fact that their (Kanu’s lawyers’) withdrawal took effect on the morning of Thursday.
He prayed the court to grant Kanu some time to gather his thoughts and compose himself for the task ahead.
The prosecuting lawyer did not object, following which Justice Omotosho adjourned the case till Friday, October 24, for Kanu to open his defence.
In a motion he personally filed on Tuesday, Kanu assured the court that he was prepared to begin his defence pursuant to the order of this honourable court made on October 16, 2015, directing the defendant to commence his defence on October 24, 2025.
Kanu informed the court of his plan to call a total of 23 witnesses, divided into two categories.
The first category, he said, would be those he called ordinary but material witnesses.
He further informed the court that his second category of witnesses would be vital and compellable and shall be summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.
In the notice Kanu personally signed, suggesting that he may have fired his team of lawyers led by Kanu Agabi, SAN, the IPOB leader told the court that, in view of the number of witnesses he intends to call, the court should consider granting a 90-day timeframe to enable him conclude his defence.
He told the court that he would testify on his own behalf, providing a sworn account of the facts, denying the allegations, and explaining the political context of his statements and actions.
Among those Kanu listed as “compellable witnesses” are a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd), as well as Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Hope Uzodinma, Governors of Lagos and Imo States respectively.
He further listed current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Nyesom Nwike, his Works’ counterpart, Dave Umahi, and the immediate past governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu.
He also listed the immediate past Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, the immediate past Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, his then-collegue at the State Security Service, SSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, and several witnesses whose identities he didn’t reveal.
Kanu, in the notice, promised to provide the sworn statements of all voluntary witnesses to this honourable court, and to notify the prosecution within a reasonable time.
He assured that no precious time of the honourable court would be delayed, stressing, and it would interest the honourable court that and the general public that justice is not only done but manifestly seen to have been done.
Kanu’s motion offering to open his defence came on the same day a magistrate court in Abuja ordered the remand of his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor and 12 others who were among those protesting against Kanu’s continued trial.
The police charged the 13 persons with various offences, including criminal conspiracy, disobedience of a lawful order, inciting disturbance, and disturbance of public peace, contravening sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
The 13 defendants named in two separate first information reports (FIRs) are Ejimakor, Kanu’s brother, Emmanuel, Joshua Emmanuel, Wilson Anyalewechi, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua, Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand, Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, Godwill Obioma, and Chima Onuchukwu.
The magistrate, who stood down the case, later ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until October 24 for arraignment.
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