Newsie Events Media :
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that he will only appear as a witness in the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), if compelled by a court order.
Wike made the statement on Friday in Abuja while reacting to reports that Kanu had listed him among 23 individuals expected to testify in the case.
Earlier on Thursday, Kanu had disengaged his legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kanu Agabi, prompting the lawyers to formally withdraw their representation. Following the move, Kanu submitted a list of witnesses comprising political and security figures, categorized as “ordinary but material witnesses” and “vital and compellable” under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.
Those identified as vital and compellable include former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma; former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma; and Wike himself.
Others named are former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; Minister of Works Dave Umahi; former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami; former NIA Director-General Ahmed Rufai; former DSS DG Yusuf Bichi; and current DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.
Responding to his inclusion, Wike dismissed suggestions that he must automatically appear in court, insisting that only a formal summons from the court could compel him to testify.
“You don’t become a witness by reading the newspaper. Nobody has served me any process. Nobody has subpoenaed me,” the minister said. “So, because I was listed, I will begin to run helter-skelter? No. If I am served or subpoenaed to appear as a witness or provide evidence, I must comply with the court’s orders. I must appear.”
When asked if Kanu’s continued detention required a political solution, Wike declined to comment.
Nnamdi Kanu has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his extradition from Kenya in June 2021. He is currently facing terrorism-related charges, while calls for his release continue to grow, particularly from political and community leaders in the South-East.
Kanu’s lawyers have repeatedly expressed concern over his deteriorating health, but the court has so far denied requests for him to seek medical treatment outside DSS custody.
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