The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has outlined the condition under which he would appear as a witness in the trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Wike disclosed this during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, explaining that he would not testify in Kanu’s trial simply because his name appeared in newspaper reports.
The FCT Minister said he would only comply if the court formally summons him to testify or provide evidence in the ongoing trial of the detained IPOB leader.
“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 statement or provide evidence—I must obey the court; I must appear.”
When 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 could answer that question.
“If you see Nnamdi Kanu, ask him, ‘Why did you list me?’ I did not volunteer to be a witness. So, if you see him, ask, ‘Why did you list Wike as one of your witnesses?’” he said, declining to comment on whether Kanu’s continued detention should be resolved through a political solution.
Earlier this week, Kanu filed a fresh motion listing former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami and several 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 directing him to open his defence on October 24.
In the motion titled “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 IPOB members. Another unnamed forensic linguist is expected to 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 perceived locally as political commentary rather than hate speech, while an unnamed security expert will address procedural flaws and investigative irregularities in the terrorism case.
United States 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 impact of his prolonged detention on his physical and mental health.
Other listed witnesses include former Minister of Defence Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd); former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd); and Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
Kanu, who has been in detention since his extradition from Kenya in June 2021, also listed the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; former Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu; and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, among his witnesses.
