The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has given a condition that will see him stand as a witness in the trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Wike made this known during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, explaining that he will not appear as a witness in Kanu’s trial just because his name was listed in the newspapers.
The FCT Minister said that if the court formally summons him to testify or provide evidence in the ongoing trial of the detained IPOB leader, he will comply without hesitation.
Wike, however, stated that no one has served him with any process to appear as a witness in Kanu’s court case.
“You don’t become a witness by reading the newspaper. Nobody has served me any process; nobody has subpoenaed me,” Wike said.
“So, because I saw Wike listed, I will now begin to run helter-skelter. No, you don’t do that. If I am served, if I am subpoenaed to come and give a witness or give evidence, I must obey the court; I must appear.”
Wike was further asked if he knew why Kanu listed him as one of his witnesses. The former Governor of Rivers State said he did not, adding that only the IPOB leader would give a definite answer.
“If you see Nnamdi Kanu, you ask him, ‘Why did you list me? I did not go and say I want to be a witness.’ So, if you see him, ask him, ‘Why did you list Wike as one of your witnesses?’,” he said, refraining from commenting on whether Kanu’s ongoing detention demands a political solution.
Kanu, earlier this week, filed a fresh motion listing former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and other top political and security figures as witnesses in his terrorism trial.
The motion, filed on October 21, 2025 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, was addressed to Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu, who personally signed the document, stated that the application complied with the court’s order of October 16, which directed him to open his defence on October 24.
In the motion entitled ‘Notice of Number and Names of Witnesses to be Called by the Defendant’, Kanu seeks to call 23 witnesses, including international experts, state governors, military generals and former intelligence officials.
He divided the witnesses into two categories: voluntary but material witnesses and vital compellable witnesses to be subpoenaed under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.
Among the voluntary witnesses is Emeka Umeagbalasi, a political historian, who will testify on the legal foundations of self-determination and state violence against members of IPOB. Another unnamed forensic linguist will analyse Kanu’s public broadcasts to counter claims that they incited violence or terrorism.
Also listed is Benjamin Madubugwu, a former co-accused who will testify about IPOB’s non-violent structure and goals. Dan Ulasi, a community leader from Abia State, is expected to testify that Kanu’s broadcasts were viewed locally as political commentary, not hate speech, while an unnamed security expert will address procedural flaws and investigative irregularities in the terrorism case.
United States (U.S.) lawyer, Bruce Fein, will testify on the illegality of Kanu’s extraordinary rendition from Kenya and its implications for trial jurisdiction, while Kanu’s personal physician, Prof. Martin Aghaji, is expected to testify on the effect of his prolonged detention on his physical and mental health.
He also listed as witnesses a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd), as well as Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Hope Uzodinma, Governors of Lagos and Imo States respectively.
Kanu, who has been held in detention since his extradition from Kenya in June 2021, further listed the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, the immediate past governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Wike.
