By Ayomide Otitoju
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, one final opportunity to open his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial or risk being foreclosed from doing so.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Justice Omotosho emphasized that it was his duty to ensure the defendant was given adequate opportunity to defend himself before the court proceeds further.
The ruling followed an application by the prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), who urged the court to foreclose Kanu’s right to defence after he failed to utilize five of the six days allotted for that purpose. Awomolo reminded the court that the previous sitting had been adjourned to Wednesday specifically for Kanu to present his defence or be deemed to have waived his right.
At the resumed session, however, Kanu again declined to open his defence, insisting there was no valid charge against him.
