The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has withdrawn his earlier plan to call witnesses in his ongoing trial for alleged terrorism offences. The court had on October 24 adjourned the matter to October 27 for Kanu to open his defence. In preparation, he had previously written to the court, indicating his intention to summon several high-profile witnesses, including Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd.), former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Minister of Works Dave Umahi, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami (SAN), ex-National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, and Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
According to his earlier filings, Bichi was expected to testify about Kanu’s custody conditions and the DSS’s role in his arrest and detention, while a DSS officer allegedly involved in Kanu’s rendition was to be cross-examined on claims of fabricated statements and custodial abuse. Gen. Buratai was to testify about the chain of command during the 2017 military invasion of Kanu’s home, while Dave Umahi, then Governor of Ebonyi State, would have spoken on the 2017 proscription of IPOB by the South-East Governors Forum. Similarly, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was expected to address his government’s role during the Umuahia operation, and Governor Hope Uzodimma was listed to clarify his remarks following the killing of Ahmed Gulak.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who governed Rivers State during the 2020 Obigbo crisis, was slated to testify about the military crackdown that followed the #EndSARS protests, while Governor Sanwo-Olu was to speak on the findings of the Lagos #EndSARS Judicial Panel concerning the Lekki Toll Gate incident. Gen. Danjuma was listed to elaborate on his 2018 public statement urging Nigerians to defend themselves against state-backed violence.
However, when proceedings resumed on Monday, Kanu informed the court that he had reviewed the case file and concluded that there was no valid charge against him. He argued that since he believed the trial lacked legal basis, he saw no need to call witnesses or present a defence. Justice James Omotosho advised Kanu to file a written address outlining his position and serve it on the prosecution. The judge also urged him to consult criminal law experts about the legal implications of his decision. The court subsequently adjourned the case to November 4, 5, and 6 for the adoption of final written addresses — either on Kanu’s contention that the prosecution failed to establish a case or, if necessary, for him to enter his defence.
Source: https://guardian.ng/
