According to a report by Vanguard, on Thursday November 27, 2025, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Victor Opara, has stated that Nnamdi Kanu made a serious mistake by dismissing his legal team and choosing to defend himself during his terrorism trial.
Opara shared his views while reacting to the judgment that convicted Kanu and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
His position sits between the lawyers who support the judgment and those who reject it, as he focused strictly on the procedure rather than the outcome.
Opara explained that terrorism trials require strong evidence and very skilled legal defence.
He noted that Kanu removed a competent team of lawyers and took on the case alone.
According to him, defending yourself in such a serious trial needs technical knowledge, emotional control, and deep understanding of criminal law.
He said the defendant did not present any witnesses or challenge the prosecution’s claims.
In such a situation, he added, the judge has very limited options because unchallenged evidence normally stands.
Opara questioned whether the court followed proper procedures.
He stated that any defendant facing charges that can lead to life imprisonment or death should not be allowed to defend himself.
He referred to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which says that people facing capital offences must not represent themselves.
He believes the judge should have assigned a lawyer, either from the Legal Aid Council or through another official process, after Kanu’s lawyers withdrew.
“What surprised me was that Kanu dismissed a very competent legal team, in my view, and chose to defend himself. Having said that, it is important to interrogate the procedure. I do not believe a defendant facing an offence that carries life imprisonment or death should ever defend himself. Section 349 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, especially subsection (6), clearly states that a defendant facing a capital offence shall not defend himself,” he said. View, More,
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