During a Tuesday court session in Abuja, a surprising twist occurred in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who is facing terrorism-related charges. Kanu disowned a lawyer named Charles Ude, who had submitted a letter to the court claiming to represent him. Both Kanu and his recognized legal team, led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), denied any connection to Ude, reaffirming that Agabi remained his only legal representative.
The judge, already managing tensions due to an overcrowded defence bench, reminded both parties of a prior agreement limiting the defence team to 16 of the listed 26 lawyers. He warned that any disruption could force the trial to proceed virtually, leveraging available court technology.
Another contentious moment came when Favour Kanu, reportedly related to the defendant, faced scrutiny for allegedly recording and publishing a previous session’s court proceedings. The judge noted she had been cautioned before and spared a contempt charge. In court, Nnamdi Kanu pleaded emotionally on her behalf, referencing the Bible and expressing remorse. Favour claimed she was unaware the court was still in session and had stopped once warned. The judge excused her from attending the next three hearings, stressing the need for order.
On the legal side, prosecution counsel Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) objected to a defence motion seeking the return of certain court exhibits, agreeing only to release non-perishable items. During cross-examination, the defence pressed the first prosecution witness (identified only as AAA) on his knowledge of the 15-count charge. The witness conceded he knew little about several charges that had been dismissed, including serious allegations like election disruption and attacks on federal institutions.
The witness acknowledged IPOB’s role in enforcing Monday sit-at-home orders—one of the charges possibly struck out. In a follow-up question, Awomolo asked what “agitation” meant in the context of Kanu’s actions. The witness said it referred to attempts to break Nigeria apart.
