A former presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande says IPOB strongman Nnamdi Kanu is interested in a political solution to his case against the federal government.
Akande, a former spokesman to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the remark on Thursday on Channels Television Sunrise Daily, just as the dusts arising from the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest are just settling down.
On Monday, some Nigerians demonstrated in some major cities across the country, including Abuja, the nation’s capital demanding the unconditional release of the IPOB strongman from the Department of State Services, DSS custody. Kanu is currently standing trial on terrorism and treason felony charges.
According to Akande, the IPOB leader appears not interested any longer in the case, after he declared that he will represent himself as the federal government begins his trial on Thursday.
The lawyers representing him led by Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN had announced that the IPOB leader had taken over the case from them, saying they will no longer represent him in the case.
The magazine had earlier reported that Kanu’s lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, was among 10 protesters arrested on Monday by the police after they participated in the #FreeNnamdiKanu Protest in Abuja.
Ejimakor has since been arraigned in court alongside others, including Kanu’s brother, Price Emmanuel Kanu by the police. They were charged for inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace in disobedience to a court order. They have been sent to Kuje Correctional Center pending their trial.
Announcing their decision to drop Kanu’s case today, his lead counsel, Agabi, informed the court that he has applied to withdraw from representing the detained leader of the proscribed IPOB, stating that the defendant had taken the case back from them.
He also notified that court that All the Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, on the defense team have also withdrawn from the suit, a development Kanu himself confirmed when he appeared in court today.
The IPOB leader told the court that he would be representing himself for now, though that might change later. When the judge asked if he should be assigned a lawyer, he declined the offer.
Defending himself orally, Kanu argued that the court lacks the jurisdiction to try him.
The IPOB leader returned to the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday to open his defence in the suit instituted against him by the Federal Government on alleged terrorism. The case is presided by Justice James Omotosho.
Kanu had listed former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd), a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), and others as part of his witnesses.
Meanwhile, Kanu’s brother wife, Favour has cried out over the arrest and detention of her husband, Prince Emmanuel Kanu. Lamenting what her family has been through following her husband’s arrest, Favour said the protest was peaceful, saying there was not need to arrest the protesters.
She said: “It’s still surprising and shocking because everything was peaceful from the beginning to the end.
“My husband and Barrister Aloy Ejimakor came out with Sowore and others. They were still converging when security vehicles pulled up. They told the officers it was a peaceful protest, no arms, no violence — but the next minute, they started shooting.”
She said she took things for granted until her husband’s Facebook Live stream went off during the protest.
“Immediately the live ended, I knew something had happened. I called his phones, no answer. Later, they went off completely. The lawyers later confirmed he had been arrested.”
She said it was at that time that the legal team searched a number of police stations and finally located her husband and others at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office in Abuja.
She lamented: “Tell me, what has a peaceful protest got to do with SARS? SARS is for robbery and violent crimes. This is clearly an attempt to silence those demanding justice.”
“I’m not pleading; I’m demanding justice. It is his right to protest peacefully. They informed the police before the protest and agreed to avoid restricted areas. Yet, by 7 a.m., security trucks arrived and opened fire. Why? Do they want to keep him locked up like his brother for years for doing nothing?
“My children have been crying since the incident. They should release my husband. He did absolutely nothing wrong.
“At this point, can they just arrest the whole Kanu family at once? I mean, two isn’t enough!”
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