The detained leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, made a surprising move on Tuesday when he informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that he was ready to open his defence.
This development came just hours after Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, led protests in parts of Abuja calling for Kanu’s release.
Kanu had, last Thursday, filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to proceed with his trial.
The objection came on the same day a team of medical experts appointed by the court declared him medically fit to face trial, according to Wizopa reports.
In a new motion personally filed on Tuesday, October 21, Kanu told the court that he was ready to begin his defence “pursuant to the order of this honourable court made on the 16th day of October 2015, directing the defendant to commence his defence on the 24th day of October 2025.”
He revealed plans to call 23 witnesses, divided into two categories — “ordinary but material witnesses” and “vital and compellable witnesses” — the latter to be summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.
The motion, personally signed by Kanu, suggested that he may have disengaged his legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kanu Agabi.
He also requested 90 days to conclude his defence because of the number of witnesses he intends to call.
Kanu stated that he would testify on his own behalf, “providing a sworn account of the facts, denying the allegations, and explaining the political context of his statements and actions.”
Among those listed as “compellable witnesses” were former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd); former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd); Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.
Others included the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; and former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
Kanu also listed 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 names he withheld.
Kanu pledged to submit sworn statements from all voluntary witnesses and to notify the prosecution within a reasonable time.
He assured the court that “no precious time of the honourable court would be delayed,” adding that “justice must not only be done but be manifestly seen to have been done.”
Meanwhile, on the same day Kanu filed his motion, a magistrate court in Abuja ordered the remand of his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and 12 others arrested during protests demanding his release.
The police charged the 13 defendants with criminal conspiracy, disobedience of a lawful order, inciting disturbance, and disturbance of public peace — offences contrary to sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
Those listed in the first two information reports include Ejimakor, Kanu’s brother Emmanuel, Joshua Emmanuel, Wilson Anyalewechi, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua, Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand, Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, Godwill Obioma, and Chima Onuchukwu.
After briefly standing down the case, the magistrate ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till October 24 for arraignment.
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