Speaking with Seun on Channels TV from 0:42, former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, shared his candid thoughts on the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). His remarks came shortly after Kanu reportedly withdrew his legal team, choosing instead to represent himself in court — a decision that stirred debate across the nation’s legal and political spaces.
In his conversation, Odinkalu expressed deep concern over the current state of Nigeria’s judicial system, lamenting what he described as a serious deviation from the principles he was taught as a lawyer. Speaking frankly, he said, “I Don’t Know Any Law in Nigeria, So I Can’t Help You Sir. Please Feel Free to Withdraw My Certificate. The fact is, the things the court do these days, I was not trained in them.”
Odinkalu’s statement, though laced with sarcasm, reflected his frustration with the erosion of legal integrity in the country. He explained that, according to the law he was taught, the relationship between a lawyer and a client is clearly defined. In his words, “A defendant (Nnamdi Kanu) says he will now defend himself. Well, in the vision of the law that I was taught, the relationship between a lawyer and a client is a relationship of agent and principal — with the client being the principal and the lawyer being the agent. If the principal withdraws the instructions, it is withdrawn, and the lawyer is obliged to cease representing the client.”
Odinkalu’s remarks touched on broader concerns about how the Nigerian judiciary has evolved, suggesting that the system has lost its foundational discipline. His words resonated with many Nigerians who feel disillusioned by the nation’s justice process, especially in politically sensitive cases.
He emphasized that the rule of law must remain the guiding force in any democracy and that when the legal system begins to bend to political pressure or personal interests, justice itself becomes endangered. His statement, though bold, captured a sentiment widely shared by citizens — that the Nigerian legal system needs urgent reform to restore public confidence.
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