The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has set a clear condition for his participation as a witness in the terrorism trial of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Wike stated during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday that he would obey any formal court summons to testify or provide evidence but will not voluntarily appear merely because his name appeared in newspapers.
Wike emphasized that no official court process or subpoena has been served on him to appear in Kanu’s trial. “You don’t become a witness by reading the newspaper. Nobody has served me any process; nobody has subpoenaed me,” he clarified. He added that he would comply without hesitation if properly summoned by the court.
On being asked why Kanu listed him as a witness, Wike denied any knowledge and suggested that only Kanu could provide an explanation. “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,” Wike said, declining to comment on whether Kanu’s detention should be resolved politically.
Earlier this week, Kanu filed a fresh motion listing 23 witnesses for his defense, including high-profile political and military figures such as former AGF Abubakar Malami, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), and state governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Hope Uzodinma of Imo.The motion, dated October 21st, 2025, was filed before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in compliance with the October 16th court order directing Kanu to open his defense on October 24th.Kanu categorized the witnesses into voluntary but material witnesses and vital compellable witnesses to be subpoenaed under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.
The list also includes a political historian, a forensic linguist, security experts, Kanu’s personal physician, and a United States lawyer, Bruce Fein, who is expected to testify on the illegality of Kanu’s extradition from Kenya and issues regarding trial jurisdiction.Kanu has been detained since his extradition from Kenya in June 2021. Other listed witnesses include Minister of Works Dave Umahi, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, and Nyesom Wike himself.
