Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has named former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami among witnesses he intends to call in his ongoing terrorism trial. In a fresh motion he personally signed and filed before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Kanu expressed readiness to begin his defence as directed by the court. According to court documents sighted by the News Agency of Nigeria, the motion—filed on October 21 and 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 stated that the application was in compliance with the court’s October 16 order directing him to open his defence on October 24, 2025. He disclosed plans to call a total of 23 witnesses divided into two categories: “ordinary but material witnesses” and “vital and compellable” witnesses who would be summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011. The IPOB leader asked the court to grant him 90 days to conclude his defence, assuring that he would personally testify, provide a sworn statement denying all allegations, and explain the political context of his words and actions. Among those listed as “compellable witnesses” are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, 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, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and former Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi. Kanu pledged to submit sworn statements from all voluntary witnesses and to promptly notify the prosecution, stressing that he had no intention of wasting the court’s time. He added that it was in the interest of both the court and the public “that justice is not only done but seen to have been done.” The motion comes shortly after Kanu filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to continue hearing his case. The objection was filed on the same day a team of medical experts appointed by the court submitted a report confirming that Kanu is medically fit to stand trial. Meanwhile, a magistrate court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and 12 others arrested during a protest organised by activist Omoyele Sowore on Monday. The police charged the 13 individuals with criminal conspiracy, disobedience of lawful order, inciting disturbance, and public disturbance—offences contrary to Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law. Those remanded alongside Ejimakor include 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 directed that all 13 be kept at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending their arraignment on October 24.
