Trial: FG Witness Struggles Under Cross-Examination As Kanu’s Legal Team Shines
By The9jaTREND
The trial of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has resumed yesterday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the defense team scoring major points during the cross-examination of the second prosecution witness.
Led by respected legal luminary Kanu Agabi (SAN), the defense exposed significant contradictions and lapses in the prosecution’s case.
The witness, an investigator, admitted multiple times that he lacked knowledge of key elements, including whether the charges had been amended or dropped, and whether proper legal procedures were followed in detaining Kanu since 2021.
During questioning, the witness confessed to being unaware that the charges had been pending for almost a decade before Kanu’s rendition, and could not confirm whether the IPOB leader had been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement – an act that violates international human rights standards. At one point, his inability to recall facts triggered laughter in the courtroom.
The defense also questioned the credibility of a directive from the former Attorney General of the Federation, which seemed to have influenced the investigation’s outcome even before it was completed.
The witness could not provide clarity on whether proper investigation was done independently of that directive. The proceedings highlighted not only the strength and unity of Kanu’s defense team, comprising over a dozen senior lawyers from different regions, but also raised serious questions about the legality and integrity of the ongoing prosecution.
The case was adjourned to May 21 and 22, 2025, for continuation of trial.
