- Court warns Nnamdi Kanu to open his defence on November 5.
- Judge says case will continue without him if he refuses.
- Prosecutor accuses him of delaying the trial.
- Court accepts his new filings and gives extra time to consult a lawyer.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has cautioned detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu that his right to enter a defence may be forfeited if he refuses to participate in the next hearing of his terrorism trial.
Presiding Judge, Justice James Omotosho, gave the warning after Kanu failed, again to open his defence. This becomes the fourth time the IPOB leader has declined to proceed since the prosecution closed its case and the court dismissed his no-case submission.
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Justice Omotosho stressed that if Nnamdi Kanu does not enter a defence on November 5, the court will assume he has willingly abandoned that right, and the matter will move forward without further delay.
Earlier on October 27, the court had adjourned for Kanu to file his final written address or open his defence. But during Tuesday’s proceedings, Kanu, who now represents himself after disengaging his legal team told the court that instead of filing the ordered written address, he filed a motion and an affidavit.
He insisted he would not defend himself because he believes there is “no valid charge” against him, and demanded immediate release, saying he should no longer be detained.
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Lead prosecutor, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), contested the validity of the freshly filed documents and accused Nnamdi Kanu of intentionally wasting the court’s time. He urged the court to treat the filings as a final written address and move the case toward judgement.
However, in his ruling, Justice Omotosho accepted the documents and granted Nnamdi Kanu more time to consult a lawyer, noting that since he is not a legal practitioner, the court would give him room to prepare properly.
The matter has been adjourned to November 5, a date the judge stated would be decisive. If Kanu fails to enter his defence on that day, the court will move on.
