Nnamdi Kanu’s trial on terrorism charges hit another impasse on Wednesday, November 5, after the Biafra nation agitator refused to open his defence.
He insisted there were no valid charges against him, prompting a Federal High Court in Abuja to grant him a final opportunity until November 7 to either defend the case or forfeit his right to do so.
Offering the extension, Justice James Omotosho stated the new deadline was offered “in the interest of justice.”
Instead of responding to the court’s request to begin his defence, Kanu took several hours arguing that the charges were illegal because they were founded on a repealed law.
He asserted that the Federal Government was violating a Supreme Court directive, which had supposedly mandated the prosecution to amend the charge before proceeding with the trial.
Kanu persistently insisted that the refusal of the federal government to amend the charge was fatal to his trial adding that no trial can hold in a repealed law.
“Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act has been repealed. I cannot put in defense under a repealed law. I will not do that,” he said.
At this point, Justice Omotosho reminded him to keep his powder dry, but he declined, maintaining that he had seen no reason to open his defense in the instant case.
At one point, he agreed to open his defense and stated that he would need to consult with his four legal consultants.
He named Mr. Nnaemeka Ejiofor, Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, Mr. Maxwell Okpara and Mr. Mandela Umegborogu as his four legal consultants to consult.
Based on this, the udge repeated his plea to him to consult with legal practitioners conversant with criminal laws to aid his defense.
Earlier, counsel to the federal government, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo(SAN) had requested the Judge to stand on the order of the court that Kanu should open defense or waive his right to do so.
Justice Omotosho however said that he was inclined to bend backward again to give Kanu another opportunity to have a rethink to open defense or forget it.
Persecondnews recalls that Kanu has been in DSS detention in Abuja since he was rearrested in Kenya and subjected to extraordinary rendition back to Nigeria on June 27, 2021.
He was arrested by Kenyan security operatives in collaboration with Nigerian authorities.
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