*Cabinets plan to name Uzodimma, Wike, Malami, Sanwo-Olu, others as witnesses
*… as courtroom shifts case to Nov 4
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, ABUJA
The continuing trial of the detained chief of the Indigenous Folks of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, took a brand new twist on Monday, as he made a volte-face on his earlier resolution to name witnesses to defend the seven-count terrorism-related cost the Federal Authorities most popular towards him.
On the resumed proceedings on the case, Kanu, who elected to defend himself after he disengaged his workforce of attorneys, adduced causes earlier than the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja, why he wouldn’t open his defence to the cost.
Addressing the courtroom from the dock, the embattled IPOB chief maintained that, having gone by way of the case file, he found that there isn’t a legitimate cost to warrant his defence.
He contended that since he had been subjected to an illegal trial primarily based on an invalid cost, there could be no want for him to supply any explanations or defend himself by way of the proof of witnesses.
Consequently, he shelved his preliminary request for the courtroom to difficulty summons to compel sure individuals to seem as his witnesses within the case.
Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021, had in a movement he personally signed and filed earlier than the courtroom, named a number of people that included serving Governors, Ministers, ex-Governors and Safety Chiefs, among the many 23 individuals he intends to provide as his witnesses.
Describing them as important and compellable witnesses in his case, Kanu, urged the courtroom to grant him a 90-day interval to allow him to open and conclude his defence.
He argued that increasing the preliminary six-day interval the courtroom gave him to conclude his defence has turn into crucial in view of the quantity and standing of the witnesses he intends to provide to provide proof within the case.
Witnesses
Among the many proposed witnesses within the principal record he submitted earlier than the courtroom, included the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma; that of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike; the rapid previous Lawyer Normal of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; in addition to a former Chief of Military Employees, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd).
Others are the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; the rapid previous Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd); rapid previous Director-Normal of the Nationwide Intelligence Company, NIA, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; in addition to the previous Director-Normal of the Division of State Companies, DSS, Yusuf Bichi.
Within the movement dated October 21 and marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, Kanu equally hinted that he would name different individuals whose names weren’t on the record he submitted.
Nevertheless, he ditched the plan on Monday, a growth that led the courtroom to adjourn the matter until November 5, 5 and 6 for the adoption of ultimate written addresses.
In the meantime, earlier than the case was adjourned, trial Justice James Omotosho implored the IPOB chief to seek the advice of consultants in legal regulation to clarify the implications of his resolution.
It is going to be recalled that the courtroom had earlier rejected a no-case-submission that Kanu filed to be discharged and acquitted.
The courtroom dismissed his competition that the totality of proof the prosecution tendered within the matter failed to determine a prima facie case towards him.
Kanu argued that the 5 witnesses the federal authorities dropped at testify earlier than the courtroom did not show that he dedicated any offence that’s identified to regulation.
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