Nnamdi Kanu Alters Legal Strategy, Prepares Defence With High-Profile Witnesses Following Failed Protest
By Oludare Joshua
In a surprising twist, Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has signaled his readiness to commence his defence in the ongoing terrorism trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja. This announcement came on Tuesday, October 21, just hours after a nationwide protest demanding his release failed to draw significant participation.
The protest, spearheaded by Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) during the 2023 elections, witnessed a minimal turnout across various cities, including Abuja, Enugu, Owerri, Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Aba, and Umuahia. Many residents expressed reluctance to join the demonstration, citing concerns that the situation could devolve into violence, given that Kanu’s case is pending before the courts.
In Abuja, police dispersed a small gathering of protesters, resulting in the arrest of 13 individuals, including Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and his brother, Emmanuel Kanu. Amidst the backdrop of this unrest, Kanu filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction over his case the same day that a medical team confirmed his fitness to stand trial.
In a motion he filed personally, Kanu indicated his intent to initiate his defence, in line with a previous court order from October 16, 2015, instructing him to commence his defence on October 24, 2025. He informed Justice James Omotosho of his plan to call 23 witnesses, categorized into two groups: “ordinary but material witnesses” and “vital and compellable witnesses,” who would be summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.
Significantly, Kanu implied a change in legal representation, suggesting he may have dismissed his lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN). He requested a 90-day period to conclude his defence due to the extensive list of witnesses he aims to present.
Kanu’s witness list includes prominent figures such as former Minister of Defence General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), former Chief of Army Staff General Tukur Buratai (rtd), and notable state governors including Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Hope Uzodinma of Imo. Additionally, he named current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, Minister of Works Dave Umahi, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN), and several other individuals.
He assured the court of his commitment to providing sworn statements from all voluntary witnesses well in advance, emphasizing that the proceedings would not waste the court’s time and that justice must not only be served but be visibly manifest.
Kanu’s decision to open his defence coincides with a magistrate court’s order for the remand of his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and 12 others involved in the recent protest. As the case unfolds, the legal landscape surrounding Kanu and IPOB’s objectives continues to evolve amid public scrutiny and political challenges.
