Drama in Abuja Court as Nnamdi Kanu's Lawyer Threatens Withdrawal...See Interesting Details

At the continuation of the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra at the Federal High Court this morning in Abuja, a yet another drama played out when Kanu's lead defence counsel, Chucks Muoma, accused his clients (Nnamdi Kanu - and two others - Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi), of judicial misconduct, and threatened to withdraw from the case.

Benjamin Madubugwu, second defendant, who is standing trial with Kanu, announced to the court that he no longer wanted Muoma to represent him.

Muoma who described the sudden change of counsel as an affront to him, declaring “my appearance in this case will be conditional”‎, he told Justice Tsoho: “My lord I am the lead counsel in this matter and courtesy demands that the introduction of a new counsel should be made with my consent.

“I am a very busy counsel. I am not chasing the priest, the priest is chasing me. If this counsel had come in to be lead counsel, it will be a different case, but he is coming to take away one of my clients. Until this clarifications are made, my further appearance is forestalled.

“I cannot do the wrong thing after almost 45 years at the bar. My conscience cannot allow me to pretend,” he said.

While responding, the new counsel, Amoebi Nzelu, representing the second defendant, explained how he became counsel to Madubugwu. He noted that he was very fond of Muoma who hailed from the same village in Anambra as himself and would not want anything that rightfully belonged to his ‘elder brother’.

“Only yesterday at Kuje prison, I was called upon to represent one of the clients. The records are there. I tried to reach one of the counsels by name Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who told me this morning that he was aware of the development, since I did not have the number of the lead counsel.

“The SAN and I are from the same LGA, Orifite in Anambra State. In Orifite. He is the eldest in this profession, and followed by another person, and myself.

“I am not struggling to take your position. I cannot struggle with my elder brother. I am the third in command, in Orifite, while he is the first in command,” Nzelu said, adding that in criminal matters, the law allows a defendant to choose his counsel.

Muoma who reacted to Nzelu’s comments, said, “I m not blaming Amoebi Nzelu. I am blaming my clients, you should have informed your counsel. Let me know how your minds are working.”

The lead prosecution counsel was absent in court, and the case was later adjourned to September 26 to 29.

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