Nnamdi Kanu abandons plan to open defence, insists he has no case to answer

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Monday, abandoned his earlier plan to call witnesses in his defence.

Kanu, upon resumed hearing in his ongoing trial for alleged terrorism offences, told Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja that he perused the case file and come to the conclusion that he had no case to answer.

Justice Omotosho had, on Friday, fixed today for Kanu to open his defence following his complaint that the case file was yet to be handed over to him.

The IPOB leader had, in a motion filed on Oct. 21, informed the court of his intention to call about 23 witnesses and applied for witness summons.

But when the case was called on Monday, Kanu said he had gone through the case file and had realised that there is no valid charge against him.

He argued that since he was convinced that there is no valid charge against him and that he was subjected to unlawful trial, there would no be need for him to conduct any defence.

Justice Omotosho then asked him to file a written address to that effect and serve the prosecution.

The judge advised him to consult experts in criminal law on the consequences of the option he had chosen.

The judge consequently adjourned the matter until Nov. 4, Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 for the adoption of the final written addresses based on the defendant’s position that evidence led so far and the charge had not established any case against him or for the defendant to enter his defence.

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About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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