Mr Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has included former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, among his witnesses in his ongoing alleged terrorism trial.
In a fresh motion personally signed and submitted before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Kanu affirmed that he was prepared to begin his defence as directed by the court.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 and dated 20th October, was filed on 21st October.
The document was 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.”
According to the IPOB leader, the motion was “pursuant to the order of this honourable court made on the 16th day of October 2015, directing the defendant to commence his defence on the 24th day of October 2025.”
Kanu informed the court of his intention to call a total of 23 witnesses, categorised into two groups.
The first group, he stated, would consist of those he described as “ordinary but material witnesses.”
He further stated that the second group of witnesses would be “vital and compellable” and would be “summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.”
He appealed to the court that, considering the number of witnesses he planned to call, a 90-day timeframe should be granted to allow him to complete his defence.
Kanu also told the court that he would “testify on his own behalf, providing a sworn account of the facts, denying the allegations, and explaining the political context of his statements and actions.”
Among those listed by Kanu as “compellable witnesses” 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 (DG) of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; former DG of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi; along with several unnamed witnesses whose identities were not disclosed.
In the motion, Kanu pledged to “provide the sworn statements of all voluntary witnesses to this honourable court, and to notify the prosecution within a reasonable time.”
He also assured that “no precious time of the honourable court would be delayed.”
Furthermore, he stated that “it would interest the honourable court and the general public that justice is not only done but manifestly seen to have been done.”
The new motion followed a preliminary objection earlier filed by the detained IPOB leader, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to continue with his trial.
He submitted the objection on the same day that a team of medical experts, appointed by the court to assess his health condition, presented a report confirming that he was medically fit to stand trial.
Meanwhile, a magistrate court in Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, along with 12 others, who were arrested during a protest organised by Omoyele Sowore on Monday against Kanu’s continued detention and trial.
The police charged the 13 individuals with various offences, including criminal conspiracy, disobedience of a lawful order, inciting disturbance, and disturbance of public peace, in violation of Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
The 13 defendants, identified in two separate First Information Reports (FIRs), include 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 all defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending their arraignment on 24th October.
