{"id":9186,"date":"2025-10-23T10:28:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T10:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/?p=9186"},"modified":"2025-10-23T10:28:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T10:28:10","slug":"nnamdi-kanu-names-malami-wike-umahi-others-as-defence-witnesses-in-terrorism-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/2025\/10\/23\/nnamdi-kanu-names-malami-wike-umahi-others-as-defence-witnesses-in-terrorism-trial\/","title":{"rendered":"Nnamdi Kanu names Malami, Wike, Umahi, others as defence witnesses in terrorism trial"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has named Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation, as one of the witnesses in his ongoing trial for alleged terrorism.<\/p>\n

In a motion signed by Kanu and filed before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, he expressed readiness to begin his defence as directed by the court.<\/p>\n

The motion, marked FHC\/ABJ\/CR\/383\/2015 and dated October 20, was filed on October 21. It is titled: \u201cNotice 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Kanu cited a court order from October 16, 2015, which instructed him to open his defence on October 24, 2025.<\/p>\n

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He informed the court of his intention to call 23 witnesses, divided into two groups: \u201cmaterial\u201d witnesses and \u201ccompellable\u201d witnesses.<\/p>\n

He requested the court to issue summonses to the latter under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.<\/p>\n

He also asked for 90 days to conclude his defence, considering the number of witnesses.<\/p>\n

Kanu stated that he would testify in his own defence, providing a sworn account to deny the allegations and explain the political context of his actions and statements.<\/p>\n

Among those listed as compellable witnesses are: Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, former Minister of Defence, Theophilus Danjuma; former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma.<\/p>\n

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Others include: Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, and former Director-General of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi.<\/p>\n

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He also noted that some witnesses would remain unnamed for now.<\/p>\n

Kanu said he would provide sworn statements from all voluntary witnesses and notify the prosecution in due time.<\/p>\n

He assured the court that proceedings would not be unnecessarily delayed and emphasised the importance of ensuring justice is both done and seen to be done.<\/p>\n

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This application follows a preliminary objection filed by Kanu challenging the court\u2019s jurisdiction to continue with the trial. The objection was submitted the same day a medical panel appointed by the court declared him fit to stand trial.<\/p>\n

In a related development, a magistrate court in Abuja ordered the remand of Kanu\u2019s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and 12 others arrested during a protest led by activist Omoyele Sowore on Monday, opposing Kanu\u2019s continued detention and trial.<\/p>\n

Police charged the group with criminal conspiracy, disobedience to lawful order, inciting disturbance, and public nuisance, contrary to Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code.<\/p>\n

The defendants, named in two separate First Information Reports (FIRs), include: Ejimakor, Kanu\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

The court ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre pending arraignment on October 24.<\/p>\n

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Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has named Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation, as one of the witnesses in his ongoing trial for alleged terrorism. In a...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9187,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t