The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has listed former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, among his witnesses in his ongoing trial on alleged terrorism charges.
Kanu, in a fresh motion he personally signed and filed before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, said he was ready to open his defence as directed by the court.
The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, was dated October 20 and filed on October 21. It is titled: “Notice of Number and Names of Witnesses to be Called by the Defendant and Request for Witness Summons/Subpoena and the Variation of the Time Within Which to Defend the Counts/Charges Against the Defendant.”
The IPOB leader said the motion was filed pursuant to the court’s order of October 16, 2015, which directed him to commence his defence on October 24, 2025.
Kanu informed the court of his intention to call 23 witnesses, divided into two categories. The first category, he said, would consist of “ordinary but material witnesses,” while the second category would include “vital and compellable witnesses” to be summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.
He prayed the court to grant him a 90-day timeframe to conclude his defence, given the number of witnesses he plans to call.
Kanu also stated that he would testify on his own behalf, providing a sworn account denying the allegations and explaining the political context of his statements and actions.
Among the “compellable witnesses” he listed are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike; former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd); former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd); Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.
Others include the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; immediate past Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, among several unnamed witnesses.
Kanu assured the court that he would provide sworn statements from all voluntary witnesses and notify the prosecution accordingly, adding that he had no intention of delaying the proceedings.
He further stated that his defence would “ensure that justice is not only done but manifestly seen to have been done.”
The motion came days after Kanu filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to continue his trial. He filed the objection on the same day a panel of medical experts, constituted by the court to assess his health status, submitted a report declaring him fit to stand trial.
Meanwhile, a Magistrate Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and 12 others who were arrested during a protest organised by activist Omoyele Sowore on Monday against Kanu’s continued detention and trial.
The police charged the 13 defendants with criminal conspiracy, disobedience of a lawful order, inciting disturbance, and disturbance of public peace — offences contrary to Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
Those named in the two First Information Reports (FIRs) are Ejimakor; Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel; Joshua Emmanuel; Wilson Anyalewechi; Okere Nnamdi; Clinton Chimeneze; Gabriel Joshua; Isiaka Husseini; Onyekachi Ferdinand; Amadi Prince; Edison Ojisom; Godwill Obioma; and Chima Onuchukwu.
The magistrate ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending their arraignment on October 24.
