Nnamdi Kanu Names Malami, Wike, Umahi, Sanwo-Olu, Danjuma, Buratai, Others as Witnesses in Explosive Court Filing

Nnamdi Kanu Names Malami, Wike, Umahi, Sanwo-Olu, Danjuma, Buratai, Others as Witnesses in Explosive Court Filing In a bold and unprecedente...

Nnamdi Kanu Names Malami, Wike, Umahi, Sanwo-Olu, Danjuma, Buratai, Others as Witnesses in Explosive Court Filing

In a bold and unprecedented move, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has shaken the foundations of Nigeria’s judicial and political establishment by submitting a list of high-profile witnesses to be called in his ongoing terrorism trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The list, filed personally by Kanu on October 21, 2025, reads like a roll call of Nigeria’s most powerful figures, including former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Works Minister Dave Umahi, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, retired General Theophilus Danjuma, and former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, among others. This audacious strategy signals Kanu’s intent to turn the trial into a public reckoning for those he accuses of orchestrating Biafra’s persecution.

The filing comes on the heels of a tense protest in Abuja led by activist Omoyele Sowore, demanding Kanu’s unconditional release. The demonstration, marred by heavy police clampdown, saw 13 arrests, including Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, and lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejimakor. Charged with criminal conspiracy and public disturbance, they were remanded in Kuje Prison, further inflaming the volatile atmosphere surrounding Kanu’s case.

Kanu’s motion, submitted to Justice James Omotosho, declares his readiness to open his defense and lists 23 witnesses, categorized as “ordinary but material” and “vital and compellable.” The compellable witnesses those the court could summon if they refuse to appear include:

Abubakar Malami, former Attorney General, who oversaw IPOB’s 2017 proscription and Kanu’s initial prosecution.

Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister and former Rivers Governor, accused by IPOB of suppressing Biafran agitation.

Dave Umahi, Works Minister and former Ebonyi Governor, branded a traitor by IPOB for his stance against the movement.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos Governor, linked to crackdowns on IPOB sympathizers in Lagos.

Theophilus Danjuma (rtd.), former Defence Minister, whose criticisms of Fulani herdsmen violence align with IPOB’s narrative of ethnic targeting.

Tukur Buratai (rtd.), former Chief of Army Staff, accused by Kanu of sabotaging peace talks and leading military assaults on IPOB.

Hope Uzodinma, Imo Governor, alleged to have enabled state-sponsored attacks on Biafrans.

Okezie Ikpeazu, former Abia Governor, from Kanu’s home state, potentially to testify on local governance failures.

Ahmed Rufai Abubakar and Yusuf Bichi, former heads of NIA and DSS, respectively, implicated in Kanu’s 2021 rendition from Kenya.

Kanu also hinted at additional unnamed witnesses, promising to provide their sworn statements soon. He has requested a 90-day adjournment to accommodate the extensive testimony, underscoring the scale of his defense.

Kanu’s legal saga, spanning nearly a decade, began with his 2015 arrest on charges of treasonable felony, terrorism, and incitement tied to his Radio Biafra broadcasts advocating for Biafran independence. His 2021 abduction and rendition from Kenya, globally condemned as illegal, has kept him in DSS solitary confinement since. The prosecution rested its case in June 2025, relying on five witnesses, including DSS operatives who claimed Kanu’s broadcasts incited violence in the Southeast. Kanu’s defense, bolstered by a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that quashed earlier charges, now seeks to expose systemic injustices.

By summoning Nigeria’s political and military elite, Kanu aims to shift the narrative, placing the state on trial for its handling of the Biafran question. “This is Ohamadike’s masterstroke,” declared an IPOB spokesperson. “Those who have oppressed our people will face the truth in open court.”

The announcement has ignited fierce reactions across Biafraland and beyond. On X, IPOB supporters rallied behind Kanu, with one user posting, “The lion of Biafra roars! Let the oppressors tremble!” Critics, however, see it as a ploy to delay justice. The broader context marked by ongoing Southeast insecurity and sit-at-home orders. Tuesday’s protest, highlighted the growing unrest, with Sowore’s arrest amplifying calls for Kanu’s release.

As the trial resumes, Kanu’s gambit could transform the courtroom into a battleground for Nigeria’s soul. Compelling these witnesses risks exposing uncomfortable truths about state power, ethnic tensions, and the Biafran struggle. For Biafrans, this is more than a trial—it’s a fight for justice and self-determination. Whether the court grants Kanu’s request or these witnesses take the stand, one thing is certain: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains a force that Nigeria cannot ignore. 

Family Writers Press International.