Nnamdi Kanu Names Malami, Wike, Umahi, Sanwo-Olu, Danjuma, Buratai, Others as Witnesses in Ongoing Trial

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has submitted a fresh motion before the Federal High Court in Abuja, listing prominent Nigerian figures — including former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and former Defence Minister Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) — as witnesses in his ongoing alleged terrorism trial.

Kanu, in the motion he personally signed and filed before Justice James Omotosho, said he was ready to open his defence as directed by the court.

According to court documents obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, was dated October 20 and filed the next day. It was titled:
“Notice of Number and Names of Witnesses to be Called by the Defendant and Request for Witness Summons/Subpoena and Variation of the Time Within Which to Defend the Counts/Charges against the Defendant.”

Kanu noted that his application followed the court’s earlier order of October 16, 2025, directing him to commence his defence on October 24, 2025.

He informed the court that he intends to call 23 witnesses divided into two categories — “ordinary but material witnesses” and “vital and compellable witnesses,” the latter to be summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.

Kanu requested a 90-day period to conclude his defence, assuring the court that he would testify personally, offering “a sworn account of the facts, denying the allegations, and explaining the political context of his statements and actions.”

Among the high-profile individuals listed as compellable witnesses are:

• Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT
• Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), former Defence Minister
• Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), former Chief of Army Staff
• Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State
• Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State
• Dave Umahi, Minister of Works
• Okezie Ikpeazu, former Governor of Abia State
• Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, immediate past DG of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
• Yusuf Bichi, former DG of the State Security Service (SSS)

Kanu pledged to submit the sworn statements of all voluntary witnesses to the court and notify the prosecution promptly, assuring that “no precious time of the honourable court would be delayed.”

He added:

“It would interest the honourable court and the general public that justice is not only done but manifestly seen to have been done.”

This motion comes shortly after Kanu filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to continue his trial. On the same day, a court-appointed medical panel submitted a report confirming he was fit to stand trial.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, a magistrate court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and 12 others arrested during a protest led by activist Omoyele Sowore on Monday over Kanu’s continued detention.

The police charged the 13 individuals with criminal conspiracy, disobedience of lawful order, inciting disturbance, and public unrest, under Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code.

The magistrate directed that all defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending their arraignment on October 24.

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