People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has unveiled an extensive list of 23 witnesses he plans to call in his defence as his decade-long terrorism trial resumes before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a new motion dated October 20, 2025, and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, Kanu personally signed a notice of intention to open his defence, naming a blend of current and former top government officials, retired military officers, and other individuals as witnesses.
According to the filing, Kanu’s witnesses are grouped into two categories — “ordinary but material witnesses” and “vital and compellable witnesses.”
Among those listed as vital and compellable are:Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State; and
Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), former Chief of Army Staff.
Others are Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), former Minister of Defence;
Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State;
David Umahi, Minister of Works and former Governor of Ebonyi State; Okezie Ikpeazu, former Governor of Abia State; Abubakar Malami (SAN), immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation; Yusuf Bichi, former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS); and
Ahmed Abubakar, former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Kanu also indicated that several other “ordinary but material” witnesses including community leaders, legal experts, and human rights observers would testify to support his claim of political persecution and to contextualize his public statements and actions.
In his motion, Kanu stated that he would testify on his own behalf, providing a sworn account denying the allegations and explaining the political context surrounding his agitation for Biafra. He urged the court to allow a 90-day window to complete his defence and invoked Section 232 of the Evidence Act (2011) to compel the appearance of all vital witnesses.
“I will testify on my own behalf, providing a sworn account of the facts, denying the allegations, and explaining the political context of my statements and actions,” Kanu said in the document.
“It will interest the honourable court and the general public that justice is not only done but is manifestly seen to have been done.”
The latest development follows Justice James Omotosho’s ruling that a prima facie case had been established against Kanu after dismissing his no-case submission earlier this month.
Meanwhile, a parallel controversy has erupted over Kanu’s health. The court had directed the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to evaluate his medical condition following a defence application for his transfer to the National Hospital, Abuja.
However, while the NMA report reportedly declared Kanu fit to stand trial, his family in Abia State dismissed the report as “fake and concocted,” alleging that no medical delegation visited him.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Kanunta Kanu accused the prosecution of fabricating the report and warned that the alleged persecution of his brother and the Igbo people was pushing Nigeria “toward a breaking point.”
“NMA did not go to examine Nnamdi Kanu as demanded by the presiding judge. Any medical report presented is fake. We want the world to know that NMA did not visit Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for any medical test,” he said.
The development comes amid rising tension over last week’s #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja, led by rights activist Omoyele Sowore. The protest led to the arrest of Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, his brother Prince Emmanuel Kanu, and ten other demonstrators.
They have since been charged with criminal conspiracy, disobedience of lawful order, and public peace disturbance under Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code, and were remanded pending arraignment on October 24, 2025.
Kanu’s family, however, defended Sowore, saying he merely exercised his democratic right to peaceful protest.
“Those pointing accusing fingers at Sowore should stop. He did what he was supposed to do by mobilising Nigerians to protest against injustice,” Kanunta said.
As the case resumes, all eyes will be on the Federal High Court, Abuja, where Justice Omotosho has fixed October 23, 2025, for Kanu to formally open his defence.
