Nnamdi Kanu Lists Former AGF Malami, Others as Witnesses in Ongoing Terrorism Trial
The ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), took a new turn as he filed a fresh motion before the Federal High Court, Abuja, indicating his readiness to open his defence.
In the motion, personally signed by him and filed on 21 October 2025 before Justice James Omotosho, Kanu disclosed his intention to call 23 witnesses in support of his defence. The application, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, 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.”
Kanu categorised his witnesses into two groups:
– Ordinary but material witnesses; and
– Vital and compellable witnesses, to be summoned pursuant to Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.
Among those listed as compellable witnesses are:
– Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN;
– Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike;
– Former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd);
– Former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd);
– Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo);
– Minister of Works, Dave Umahi;
– Former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu;
– Former DG of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and
– Former DG of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi.
Kanu also undertook to testify personally, providing a sworn account to deny the allegations and contextualise his statements and actions. He requested a 90-day timeframe to conclude his defence, citing the volume of witnesses.
This motion follows the court’s earlier directive of 16 October 2015, ordering the defendant to commence his defence on 24 October 2025. Kanu assured the court that sworn statements of voluntary witnesses would be filed and served on the prosecution within reasonable time, stressing that the defence would not unduly delay proceedings.
The motion comes shortly after Kanu filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to continue with the trial. On the same day, a panel of medical experts appointed by the court submitted a report declaring him medically fit to stand trial.
In a separate development, a Magistrate Court in Abuja ordered the remand of Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, alongside 12 others arrested during a protest led by activist Omoyele Sowore against Kanu’s continued detention.
The defendants were charged with criminal conspiracy, disobedience of a lawful order, inciting disturbance, and disturbance of public peace, contrary to Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law. They were ordered to be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending arraignment on 24 October 2025.
