By Desire Emmanuel
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Friday said his witnesses will be coming from all parts of the world, including Ethiopia, Kenya and the United States.
Kanu, who opted to defend himself in the ongoing alleged terrorism trial preferred against him by the Federal Government, said this before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court on Friday in Abuja.
Kanu, in a motion filed on October 21, listed the names of prominent Nigerians and foreigners he intended to call as witnesses to defend himself.
Kanu, in the application he personally signed, informed the court of his plan to call a total of 23 witnesses divided into two categories.
The first category, he said, would be those he called “ordinary but material witnesses.”
He further informed the court that his second category of witnesses would be “vital and compellable” and shall be “summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.”
He prayed the court that in view of the number of witnesses he intended to call, the court should consider granting a 90-day timeframe to enable him conclude his defence.
When the case was called on Friday, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, represented the FG and Kanu, who spoke from the dock, announced appearance for himself.
“I am Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. I stand for myself,” he said.
Awomolo then told the court that the case was scheduled for defence and that they were ready to proceed.
But Kanu said he was not prepared to commence his defence, telling the court that his disengaged lawyers were yet to hand over the case file to him.
“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,” he said.
The IPOB leader then urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable him do the needful.
Kanu also told the court that the three-day weekly visit to him at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility would no longer be enough for him to prepare his defence, considering the number of his witnesses, who would be coming across the world.
When Justice Omotosho asked him what were the visiting days and time, he said: “Two hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”
According to Kanu, “that is not enough because I have about 23 witnesses that will be coming all parts of the world, from Ethiopia, Kenya and United States.
“I will want the court to make an order so that these people can have access to me,” he said.
When the judge asked him if these people were part of the witnesses he listed in the motion he filed, he said: “They are part of the witnesses listed my lord.”
Responding, Awomolo said Kanu had all the time to defend himself since his no-case submission application failed.
Besides, the senior lawyer said the court bailiff had been trying to serve the subpoenaed witnesses Kanu listed in his application the summons to appear in court.
He said contrary to Kanu’s submission, he was not aware that “some of the witnesses are coming from parts of the world.”
Awomolo, who did not oppose Kanu’s request for adjournment, prayed the court not to vacate the standing order which directed Kanu to defend himself within six days.
Justice Omotosho said he was surprised with Kanu’s statement that his lawyer had yet to hand over the case file.
The judge, however, observed that the issue raised on Thursday was not about the case file, saying parties in the case agreed when an accelerated hearing was granted by the court.
The judge also granted the application by Kanu that his counsel should have access to him on non-working days for the purpose of the trial.
“This is hereby granted. The DSS should give him access on Saturday and Monday to have access to his counsel,” the judge said.
