The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has stunned the Federal High Court in Abuja by declaring that there is no valid case against him and that he would no longer present a defence.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, Kanu told the court that after carefully reviewing the case file, he found the charges filed by the Federal Government to be baseless and defective.
The court had earlier adjourned the proceedings on October 24 to October 27 to allow Kanu to open his defence. Before then, the IPOB leader had indicated his readiness to call witnesses and had applied for witness summons to support his case.
However, when the matter came up on Monday, Kanu informed the court that he had changed his mind after re-examining the documents before him.
According to him, “I have gone through the case file and realised that there is no valid charge against me. Since I am convinced that I am being subjected to an unlawful trial, there is no need for me to conduct any defence.”
In response, presiding judge Justice James Omotosho directed Kanu to file a formal written address stating his position and to serve the same on the prosecution.
Justice Omotosho also advised Kanu to seek legal guidance from experts in criminal law to fully understand the implications of his decision.
The matter was thereafter adjourned to November 4th, 5th, and 6th for the adoption of final written addresses — either based on Kanu’s claim that the prosecution failed to establish any case against him or for him to proceed with his defence.
