₦airaland Forum

Mr Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has listed former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, as his witness in his ongoing alleged terrorism trial.

Kanu, in a fresh motion he personally signed and filed before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, assured that he was ready to begin his defence as ordered by the court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 and dated Oct. 20, was filed Oct. 21.

The application 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.”

The IPOB leader said the motion was “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.”

Kanu informed the court of his plan to call a total of 23 witnesses, divided into two categories.

The first category, he said, would be those he called “ordinary but material witnesses.”

He further informed the court that his second category of witnesses would be “vital and compellable” and shall be “summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.”

He prayed the court that, in view of the number of witnesses he intends to call, the court should consider granting a 90-day timeframe to enable him to conclude his defence.

He told the court 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 Kanu listed as “compellable witnesses” are the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike; a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd); former Chief of Army Staff, Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd), Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo.

Others are Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; the immediate-past Governor of Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu; the immediate-past Director General (DG), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; former DG of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi, and several witnesses whose identities he didn’t reveal.

Kanu, in the motion, promised to “provide the sworn statements of all voluntary witnesses to this honourable court, and to notify the prosecution within a reasonable time.”

He assured that “no precious time of the honourable court would be delayed.”

Besides, Kanu assured that “it would interest the honourable court and the general public that justice is not only done but manifestly seen to have been done.”

The latest motion came after the detained IPOB leader had filed a motion of preliminary objection on Thursday, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to continue with his trial.

He had filed the objection the same day a team of medical experts enpanelled by the court to determine his health status, turned in a report that he was 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 who were arrested during the protest organised by Omoyele Sowore on Monday against the IPOB leader’s continued trial and detention.

The police charged the 13 persons with various offences, including criminal conspiracy, disobedience of a lawful order, inciting disturbance, and disturbance of public peace, in contravention of Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.

The 13 defendants named in two separate first information reports (FIRs) are Ejimakor, 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 ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending their arraignment on Oct. 24.

intelligence is always far from people that are told how to think.

Lanretoye:
If this is true then I think the NMA only certified him physically fit,they did not examine him mentally.
E be like mazi don Dey ment…

E pain you say them call your paddys for propaganda abi?

Commentor:
He wants to bury himself.

Rantingpiglets:
E pain you say them call your paddys for propaganda abi?

Ttalk:
Kanu is now turning to a comedian. There's nothing watery beans can't cause

Commentor:
Won't you protest for his release?

Cherrybae:
This is a smart move by kanu. The compileable witnesses if they appear will exonerate kanu via their testimony and cross examination.

Kanu lawyers are indeed wise.

I wish kanu all the best

Cherrybae:
This is a smart move by kanu. The compileable witnesses if they appear will exonerate kanu via their testimony and cross examination.

Kanu lawyers are indeed wise.

I wish kanu all the best

wediehere1:
Nlfpmod fergie001 mynd44

Rantingpiglets:
Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike;
a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd);
former Chief of Army Staff, Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd),
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State
Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo.

Dave Umahi;
Governor of Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu;
Director General (DG), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar;
former DG of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi,



THE CASE DON ENTER PHASE 2...

We have reciepts

Rantingpiglets:
Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike;
a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd);
former Chief of Army Staff, Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd),
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State
Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo.

Dave Umahi;
Governor of Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu;
Director General (DG), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar;
former DG of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi,



THE CASE DON ENTER PHASE 2...

We have reciepts

He doesnt have anything on TINUBU...

Sowore will handle TINUBU. When is RENO countering SOWORE?

Commentor:
Did he forget to call on Tinubu?

wediehere1:
Nnamdi Kanu is mad
No wonder they served to Sowore’s hand

Ttalk:
Your Kanu is just extending his trial,his trial will last at least 20years

Rantingpiglets:
He doesnt have anything on TINUBU...

Sowore will handle TINUBU. When is RENO countering SOWORE?

Lanretoye:
If this is true then I think the NMA only certified him physically fit,they did not examine him mentally.
E be like mazi don Dey ment…

Is that all

I said it...una brain don ferment.

pain is that you??

Commentor:

The risks of calling a hostile witness
- Backfiring testimony: The witness's testimony could end up hurting the defence's case, as the defence is normally not allowed to attack their own witness's credibility or cross-examine them.
- Damage to the defence's case: Calling a witness who is uncooperative or hostile can be perceived negatively by the judge and jury, even if they are ultimately granted permission to cross-examine them.
- Hostility is a legal determination: A witness is only considered hostile if they are found to be unwilling to tell the truth, not simply because their testimony is not as favourable as hoped.

When it might be strategically sound
- When the court grants permission: The court may allow the defence to treat a witness as hostile if they appear to have reversed their position or are deliberately being uncooperative.
- To use prior inconsistent statements: If the witness is ruled hostile, the defence may be able to use prior statements to discredit the witness's testimony.
- When it is a calculated risk: Calling a witness who is believed to be hostile can be a calculated risk in a desperate situation, but it is not generally considered a wise strategy.