Kanu Moves To Open Defence, Lists Top Political, Military Figures As Witnesses

The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, has listed former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), among witnesses he intends to call in his ongoing trial on alleged terrorism charges.

Kanu, in a fresh motion personally signed and filed before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, said he is 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, 2025.

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,” the application was filed in compliance with the court’s order of October 16, 2025, which mandated the IPOB leader to begin his defence on October 24, 2025.

According to Kanu, he plans to call 23 witnesses, divided into two categories.
The first category comprises “ordinary but material witnesses,” while the second group consists of “vital and compellable witnesses” who, he said, will be summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.

Kanu further prayed the court to grant him a 90-day timeframe to conclude his defence, citing the large number of witnesses and the need for adequate preparation.

He also stated that he would personally testify, giving a sworn account to deny the allegations and explain what he described as the “political context” of his statements and actions.

Among those listed as “compellable witnesses” are:

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;

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma;

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi;

Former Abia State Governor, 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 others whose names were not disclosed.

Kanu assured the court that he would submit sworn statements from all voluntary witnesses and duly notify the prosecution, emphasizing that he had no intention of delaying proceedings.

He added that his aim was to ensure that “justice is not only done but manifestly seen to have been done.”

This latest motion comes shortly after Kanu filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to continue his trial. The objection was submitted on the same day a court-appointed medical team declared him fit to stand trial.

Meanwhile, in a related 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 Omoyele Sowore on Monday. The protest was against Kanu’s continued detention and trial.

The police charged the 13 individuals with criminal conspiracy, disobedience to a lawful order, inciting disturbance, and disturbance of public peace, in violation of Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.

The defendants named in two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) include Ejimakor; Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu; 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 scheduled for October 24, 2025.