Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Thursday announced that he had disengaged his legal team led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Kanu informed Justice James Omotosho at the resumed hearing that he was prepared to conduct his own defence.

Following his decision, all the senior advocates on the team, including Chief Agabi, a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), withdrew from further appearance in the case.

Subsequently, Kanu, speaking from the dock, challenged the jurisdiction of the court to try him.

Kanu had earlier filed a motion, personally signed on 21 October, listing former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and others as witnesses in his ongoing trial on alleged terrorism charges.

The motion, titled “Notice of Number and Names of Witnesses to be Called by the Defendant and Request for Witness Summons/Subpoena and the Variation of the Time Within Which to Defend the Counts/Charges against the Defendant,” included several prominent Nigerians as potential witnesses.

Among those listed as “compellable witnesses” are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former Minister of Defence, retired General Theophilus Danjuma; and former Chief of Army Staff, retired General Tukur Buratai.

Others include Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; immediate past Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar; and former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi.

The motion also mentioned several other witnesses whose identities were not disclosed.

Kanu pledged to “provide the sworn statements of all voluntary witnesses to this honourable court and to notify the prosecution within a reasonable time.”

Kanu met privately with members of his legal team at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday.

He was brought to court by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and held consultations with his lawyers in line with Justice Omotosho’s previous order.