Nigerian separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, head of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), has dismissed his legal team and announced his intention to represent himself in his ongoing trial. The 58-year-old, who faces charges of terrorism and incitement to violence, opened his defense on Thursday by challenging the court’s jurisdiction, an argument swiftly rejected by the presiding judge. Kanu, who also holds a British passport, claims his continued detention violates a previous court of appeal ruling that had ordered the charges against him to be dropped. This decision was later overturned by Nigeria’s Supreme Court. The judge dismissed Kanu’s jurisdictional challenge, instructing him to proceed with his defense. Kanu’s decision to sack his lawyers came just 24 hours after he listed high-profile witnesses, including former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, for his trial. No reasons were provided for the dismissal, and his former legal team has remained silent. Kanu’s case has sparked significant controversy, with Nigerian police recently using tear gas to disperse protesters in Abuja demanding his release. Despite his legal battles, Kanu remains a revered figure among his followers, particularly in southeastern Nigeria. Ipob, banned as a terrorist organization in 2017, seeks independence for the region it calls the Biafran nation. Its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, has been accused of violent acts in recent years. Kanu was first arrested in 2015 but fled Nigeria in 2017 after a military raid on his home. He was re-arrested in 2021, with his lawyers alleging detention in Kenya, though Kenyan authorities have not commented on the matter. The case continues to highlight deep-seated tensions in Nigeria’s political landscape.