24/10/2025
Kanu gets extension to prepare defence after lawyers' exit
• "I have witnesses flying in from multiple countries," says IPOB leader
• Prosecution insists six-day timeline remains
• Judge orders Saturday visitations, directs DSS to provide consultation space
Biafra Radio | October 24, 2025
The Federal High Court in Abuja resumed sitting on Friday in the trial of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The prosecution, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), announced appearance. The defendant, who is now representing himself following the withdrawal of his legal team on Thursday, also announced appearance.
The business of the day was for the IPOB leader to open his defence. However, upon being invited to proceed, Kanu addressed the court:
"My lord, my counsel left the case yesterday, and I have not received the file from them.
The few people that would have brought this were precluded from seeing me. Give me until Monday to prepare for defence."
He also made an oral application requesting expanded access to lawyers:
"My Lord, I respectfully seek an order extending the visitation days for my counsels. I am currently permitted only two hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; that is not enough. I require access to counsel every blessed day, as I have over twenty-three witnesses coming from all over the world.
"I further urge my Lord to consider making an order directing the DSS to admit visitors into their facility for this purpose. I have witnesses from Ethiopia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States in relation my defence."
Although Chief Awomolo, SAN, did not oppose the prayer, he urged the court to maintain its earlier directive that Kanu must open and close his defence within six sitting days:
"My Lord, I am not aware of any persons coming from Massachusetts or wherever. The defendant has had ample time to prepare his case since his no-case submission failed. The window of six days within which to open and close his defence still stands. He has had more than sufficient time to prepare.
"Today marks the second day of the six-day window. All these arguments about not having the case file, or not having access, or whatever else, are irrelevant. My Lord, this court has no business with that."
Presiding Justice James Omotosho delivered a ruling after listening to both sides, urging Kanu to make responsible use of constitutional guarantees:
"I will grant an adjournment to enable the file to be made available to the defendant. Furthermore, in view of the defendant’s complaint regarding the limited number of hours permitted for visits from his counsel during working days, I hereby make an order that the defendant shall be allowed visits on non-working days, specifically Saturdays, for the purpose of this trial.
"And I must state that this is his right under Section 36; the right to a fair hearing. A right goes beyond merely affording the defendant an opportunity to be heard; it is an opportunity for him to defend himself. The defendant must make proper use of this opportunity.
"The court has afforded this opportunity, and it is expected that it will be duly utilised. This court will not tolerate a situation in which its time is wasted. I also note that there was a complaint, although unsubstantiated, that the DSS do eavesdrop the defendant’s pre-trial conference with his counsels. It was on that basis that, on September 22, 2025, I vacated my court to enable the defendant hold a consultation with his counsels. That opportunity was not utilised. Consequently, I shall not grant that indulgence again.
"This court has numerous matters before it. There are persons from Zimbabwe, South Africa, and even Chinese nationals currently standing trial. The court cannot continually vacate its proceedings in order to grant repeated opportunities for the defendant to conduct consultations here. Furthermore, the DSS is hereby directed to provide a suitable space within which the defendant may conduct his pre-trial conference with counsel."
"This matter is hereby adjourned to the October 27, 2025, for the defendant to enter his defence."
