Nnamdi Kanu Is Playing With Fire!” – Inibehe Effiong Warns IPOB Leader Over Risky Move

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has expressed concern over what he described as the confusing legal strategy of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Effiong noted that Kanu appears to be taking a significant risk by abandoning his earlier plan to call witnesses in his ongoing terrorism trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

On Monday, Kanu unexpectedly shelved his initial decision to present witnesses in his defence. Previously, he had written to the court indicating his intention to do so and even requested a witness summons, asking for more time to review his case file.

However, during Monday’s proceedings, Kanu told the court that after reviewing the file, he concluded there was no valid charge against him.

Reacting to the development in a post on (formerly Twitter), Effiong described Kanu’s latest legal step as a “very risky gamble.”

He wrote:

“The court had already overruled his ‘no case submission’. It’s no longer open to him to argue that he has no case to answer. At this stage, he has only two options — to open his defence or rest his case on the prosecution’s evidence.

“He has now indicated that he will not open his defence. From media reports, it seems Kanu believes the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. If that’s not the case, then there’s serious confusion.

“The law is clear — a defendant has no obligation to prove their innocence. Since Kanu pleaded not guilty, the court must now assess whether the prosecution has proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

“However, because Kanu has chosen not to present a defence, the prosecution’s evidence will stand unchallenged, except for what was raised during cross-examination.

“The court will still decide whether the prosecution has met the required burden of proof.

“I don’t know who’s advising Kanu or what his strategy is, but this is a very risky decision.”