Chuks Muoma (SAN),
lead counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),
has threatened to withdraw from his trial.
Muoma declared before
James Tsoho, justice of the federal high court in Abuja, on Monday, that his
appearance for Kanu would be conditional following the “extraction” of one his
clients – a defendant in the case – by another lawyer.
Benjamin Madubugwu, second
defendant, who is standing trial with Kanu, announced to the court that he no
longer wanted Muoma to represent him.
Muoma described the
sudden change of counsel as an affront to him, declaring “my appearance in this
case will be conditional”.
However, Amobi Nzelu, the
new counsel to the second defendant, appealed to the senior lawyer for
understanding, saying that he had not intention to snatch his client.
He added that it was the
right of an individual to choose his own counsel.
But the trial could not
commence owing to a motion filed by Kanu’s lawyer who asked the court for an
adjournment to enable Madubugwu’s lawyer and the prosecution to study and to
respond to the application.
With no objection from
the prosecution, the judge adjourned the case to September 26 for hearing of
the motion and for trial.
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