Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has named 23 Nigerians as witnesses in his ongoing terrorism trial. In a fresh application filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Kanu expressed readiness to proceed with his defense against charges of treasonable felony and terrorism brought by the federal government.
Kanu personally signed the notice, indicating he may have disengaged his legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kanu Agabi. He plans to call “ordinary but material witnesses” and “vital and compellable witnesses” under section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011, and requested 90 days to complete his defense due to the number of witnesses.
Kanu stated he would testify in his own defense, providing a sworn account to deny the allegations and explain the political context of his statements and actions. Among the “compellable witnesses” listed are former Minister of Defence Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd), former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, Minister of Works Dave Umahi, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN), former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, and Director-General of the Department of State Services Yusuf Magaji Bichi, among others whose identities were withheld.
Kanu pledged to submit sworn statements from all voluntary witnesses, notify the prosecution in advance, and ensure no court time is wasted, emphasizing that “justice must not only be done but be manifestly seen to have been done.”
Arrested in 2015, Kanu fled Nigeria after being granted bail in 2017 but was rearrested in 2021 and has since been held in DSS custody. The court will consider his application to determine the next steps in the trial.
