Federal High Court Summons Wike, Buratai, Danjuma, Uzodinma and Others as Witnesses in Nnamdi Kanu’s Terrorism Trial

A major development in the decade-long terrorism trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, unfolded at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Justice James Omotosho has confirmed the signing and readiness of witness summons for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and 22 other prominent Nigerians, compelling them to appear in court to give evidence on Kanu’s behalf.

Dependable NG reports that the list of “compellable” witnesses includes high-profile figures such as the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma; the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu; and two former Chiefs of Army Staff, General T. Y Danjuma and General Tukur Buratai. The court’s action gives effect to a notice to defend filed by Kanu on October 21, where he listed these former and serving officials, along with others, to be called to testify in the charges brought against him by the Federal Government since 2015.

In a dramatic turn during the proceedings, Nnamdi Kanu announced that he had sacked his entire legal team and declared his intention to conduct his own case. Kanu Agabi, SAN, the lead counsel, and other Senior Advocates, including Onyechi Ikpeazu, Joseph Akubo, Paul Erokoro, and Emeka Etiaba, confirmed their withdrawal, stating that they respected the defendant’s decision to take back his case. Justice Omotosho, having accepted the withdrawal, directed all other non-SAN members of the defence team to vacate the courtroom.

The IPOB leader then commenced an oral submission to challenge the court’s jurisdiction to try him. His grounds included the claim that the prosecution was in contempt of a Court of Appeal judgment that ordered his acquittal and release (which the prosecution countered by citing a subsequent Supreme Court judgment of December 15, 2023, that set aside the acquittal). Kanu also argued that the laws under which he was charged had been repealed, he had been denied a fair hearing due to his detention in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), and that the medical report certifying him fit for trial was forged.

However, Justice Omotosho overruled Kanu’s attempts to stop the trial, noting that the jurisdictional and other issues raised had already been determined by the court in its September 26 ruling, which dismissed his no-case submission and ordered him to open his defence. The judge appealed to Kanu, in the name of the Almighty God, to use the constitutional opportunity provided to put in his defence. Following an intervention by Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, who requested time for Kanu to prepare for self-representation, the court granted the request. The trial was consequently adjourned until Friday, October 24, for Nnamdi Kanu to formally begin his defence.