The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has named several high-profile Nigerian political figures, including former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, as witnesses in his ongoing terrorism trial.
Kanu, who is facing multiple terrorism-related charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja, disclosed the names in a motion he personally signed and filed before Justice James Omotosho. The document, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, was dated October 20 and filed the following day.
Kanu seeks 90 days to present 23 witnesses
In the motion titled “Notice of Number and Names of Witnesses to be Called by the Defendant and Request for Witness Summons/Subpoena and Variation of Time Within Which to Defend the Counts/Charges against the Defendant”, Kanu expressed readiness to open his defence as ordered by the court on October 16. He is expected to begin his defence on October 24, 2025.
The IPOB leader listed 23 witnesses — categorised as “material” and “compellable” — and requested the court to issue summonses for the latter under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.
Among those he seeks to compel are Wike, Minister of Works Dave Umahi, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma, and ex-Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai.
Others on the list include former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, former National Intelligence Agency boss Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, and the Director-General of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi.
Kanu also requested a 90-day window to complete his defence, citing the number of witnesses he intends to call. He added that some names would remain undisclosed for now but pledged that all voluntary witnesses would submit sworn statements, with due notification to the prosecution.
He assured the court that he would not cause undue delay in proceedings, saying justice must not only be done but also seen to be done.
