Breaking: Nnamdi Kanu Takes Over His Own Defense in Terrorism Trial After Lawyers Withdraw
ABUJA – In a stunning development at the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 23, 2025, Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), announced that he would represent himself in his long-running terrorism trial after his entire legal team abruptly withdrew from the case.
The dramatic turn of events unfolded before Justice Binta Nyako, halting the scheduled opening of Kanu’s defense. The court has now adjourned the proceedings until Friday, October 24, to allow the IPOB leader time to prepare for self-representation.
Legal Team Steps Down
The withdrawal was announced by Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), who informed the court that the defendant had decided to take full control of his case. “The defendant has taken this case back from us, and we respect that,” Agabi stated. Other senior lawyers on the team, including Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), confirmed the decision and formally stepped aside.
When Justice Nyako offered to appoint a new lawyer to represent Kanu, he firmly rejected the proposal. “I am willing and ready to conduct my case by myself,” Kanu declared from the dock. He added, however, that his decision could change in the future depending on developments.
Kanu Challenges the Court’s Authority
Speaking without legal representation, Kanu immediately launched into a passionate oral submission, questioning the legitimacy of the entire trial. He argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to try him, citing what he described as unlawful detention since his controversial extradition from Kenya in 2021.
Kanu claimed he had been denied proper access to his lawyers for nearly five years while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). He further asserted that the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, under which he is being prosecuted, had been repealed, rendering the charges against him obsolete and the trial invalid.
Invoking legal maxims, Kanu told the court, “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands,” arguing that the Nigerian government could not fairly prosecute him while holding him in what he called illegal confinement.
Court Grants One-Day Adjournment
Dr. Ikpeazu, though no longer acting as Kanu’s counsel, addressed the court as a “friend of the court” and requested a short adjournment to allow Kanu time to organize his defense. The prosecution raised no objection, and Justice Nyako granted a one-day postponement, scheduling the next hearing for October 24.
Background of the Case
Nnamdi Kanu faces multiple charges, including terrorism, treasonable felony, and operating an unlawful society in connection with IPOB, which the Nigerian government designated a terrorist organization in 2017. He was first arrested in 2015, granted bail in 2017, and fled the country after military raids on his home in Abia State.
He was rearrested in Kenya in June 2021 and extradited to Nigeria to face trial. The Supreme Court later ruled that his rendition was unlawful but upheld the government’s right to continue prosecuting him.
A High-Stakes Self-Representation
Kanu’s decision to defend himself marks a bold and unprecedented move in a case that has become a flashpoint for debates over self-determination, human rights, and federal authority in Nigeria’s Southeast region. Legal experts warn that self-representation in a complex terrorism trial carries significant risks, but Kanu’s supporters see it as a powerful act of defiance.
As the trial resumes tomorrow, all eyes will be on the IPOB leader as he steps into the role of both defendant and advocate in one of Nigeria’s most politically charged legal battles.
