Nnamdi Kanu lists Wike, Umahi, Buratai and others as witnesses as he opens defence

Nnamdi Kanu lists Wike, Umahi, Buratai and others as witnesses as he opens defence

The detained chief of the proscribed Indigenous human beings of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has informed the court docket that he is prepared to open his defence.

The IPOB leader, who had formerly filed a movement of preliminary objection challenging the courtroom’s jurisdiction to maintain his trial, filed a brand new motion on Tuesday, October 21, expressing his readiness to start his defence in step with the court’s in advance directive that proceedings start on October 24, 2025.

This development got here simply days after a crew of health workers appointed by means of the court concluded that Kanu was medically healthy to face trial.

In his movement, which he in my opinion signed, Kanu advised Justice James Omotosho of the Federal excessive courtroom that he supposed to call 23 witnesses divided into 2 classes — “ordinary however cloth witnesses” and “essential and compellable” witnesses to be summoned under section 232 of the evidence Act, 2011.

Kanu said he might testify on his very own behalf, presenting a sworn account to deny the allegations towards him and provide an explanation for the political context of his statements and moves. He requested a ninety-day duration to finish his defence, citing the extent of proof and range of witnesses involved.

amongst the ones indexed as compellable witnesses had been former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd); former leader of military staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd); Lagos nation Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Imo kingdom Governor desire Uzodinma; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; and former Abia country Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Others named included the immediate past attorney-trendy of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN; former Director-fashionable of the country wide Genius corporation (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and Director-preferred of the department of kingdom services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi, among others whose identities had been now not disclosed.

Kanu confident the courtroom that he could provide sworn statements from all voluntary witnesses and promptly notify the prosecution, adding that his defence crew would ensure that “justice is not only performed however manifestly visible to have been done.”

this is coming after a magistrate court docket in Abuja ordered the remand of Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and 12 others who participated in the protest annoying his launch.

The police charged them with criminal conspiracy, disobedience to lawful order, inciting disturbance, and disturbance of public peace, offences said to contravene Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code regulation.

The 13 defendants, which include Kanu’s brother, Emmanuel, seemed in court in 2 separate first records reviews (FIRs). After briefly standing down the case, the magistrate ordered that they be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending arraignment on October 24, 2025.