The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has named several prominent Nigerian politicians and former security chiefs as witnesses in his ongoing terrorism trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu informed the court of his plan to call 23 witnesses, divided into two categories, as part of his defence. Among those listed are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; and Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
Others named include former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; retired General Theophilus Danjuma, a former Chief of Army Staff; retired Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, also a former Chief of Army Staff; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; former Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Bichi; and immediate-past Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
It is not yet clear how Kanu intends to use their testimonies in his defence or whether any of the listed individuals had prior knowledge of their inclusion.
The IPOB leader, who is facing terrorism-related charges linked to his separatist campaigns for a Biafran state, submitted the list of proposed witnesses in a motion he personally filed on October 21.
The prosecution had earlier closed its case in June after presenting five witnesses, accusing Kanu of making inflammatory statements that allegedly incited violence and destruction across parts of the South-East.
