Court grants Kanu request to summon Wike, Buratai, T. Y Danjuma, Uzodinma, others as witnesses

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, hasdisclosed that the witness summons requested by Nnamdi Kanu to be issuedagainst the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and 22others to give evidence in his terrorism trial have been signed and are readyfor dispatch to the listed witnesses. Others whose summons have been signed and ready for deliveryare Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwooluand two former Chiefs of Army Staff, General T. Y Danjuma and Tukur Buratai. They are part of notable Nigerians listed by Kanu to becompelled by the judge to appear in court to give evidence in the terrorismcharges slammed against him by the Federal Government since 2015. Justice Omotosho announced in the open court on Thursdaythat he had given effect to Kanu’s request, signed the witness summons and thatthey are available for him to collect and serve on the said witnesses asrequired. Kanu, had in a notice to defend, filed on October 21, listedthe names of prominent Nigerians, including former and serving governors,ministers, military and security chiefs as his intended witnesses, who he saidshould be compelled to attend court. The judge directed Kanu to pick up the witness summons andserve them individually as required by law to ensure quick response of thewitnesses. At Thursday’s proceedings, the detained leader of theIndigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, announced that he had fired allmembers of his legal team. Kanu, who announced the decision himself on Thursday, toldthe court that he was willing and ready to now conduct his own case by himself. At the resumed hearing in Kanu’s terrorism trial onThursday, the prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, announced his teamfor the prosecution. When it was time for the defendant’s legal team to announceappearance, the leader of the team, Kanu Agabi, SAN, stood up and told thecourt they were only present out of the respect for the court. Kanu said they were in court to formally announce theirwithdrawal from further participation in the trial. Agabi explained that the reason for their decision “isbecause the defendant has taken this case back from us and we respect that”. He gave the names of the other SANs, who are alsowithdrawing to include: Onyechi Ikpeazu, Joseph Akubo, Paul Erokoro, EmekaEtiaba and one other. Following Agabi’s announcement, Justice James Omotoshoturned to Kanu, who was in the dock, for his response. Kanu confirmed sacking all his lawyers and told the courtthat he was willing and ready to conduct his own case by himself. Justice Omotosho then ordered other members of thedefendant’s legal team, who were in court, except the SANs, to vacate thecourtroom immediately, a directive they promptly complied with. The judge then turned to Kanu and asked him to open hiscase. In response, Kanu commenced by indicating his intention tomake an oral submission, an indulgence the judge granted him despite oppositionfrom the Federal Government lawyer. Kanu said he would not open his defence as ordered by thecourt, because he was questioning the jurisdiction of the court to try him,adding: “This is a jurisdictional issue that goes to the heart of this case.” He hinged his objection to the court’s jurisdiction on fourgrounds, the first being his claim that the Federal Government, through theprosecution, was in contempt of a Court of Appeal judgment, which he saidordered his acquittal and release. Kanu argued that for the court to grant the prosecutionaudience, it (the prosecution) must first comply with the said Court of Appealjudgment. He said the second ground was that the Terrorism Prevention(Amendment) Act 2013 and and Customs and Excise Act, under which the chargeagainst him was brought, are repealed laws. On the third ground, he claimed to have been denied fairhearing. He said his continued detention in the custody of the Department ofState Services, DSS, has denied him the opportunity for adequate consultationwith his lawyers to enable him prepare for his defence. He hinged the fourth ground on his claim that the medicalreport submitted to the court by a medical team empanelled by the President ofthe Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, which certified him fit to stand trial,was forged. Kanu denied being examined by any medical team, insistingthat his blood and urine samples were never obtained for analyses. He urged the court to declare the proceedings void and orderhis immediate release in line with the Court of Appeal judgment. Reacting, Awomolo said Kanu deserved no formal response fromthe prosecution because all the allegations he made ought to be put down in theform of a sworn affidavit and effectively demonstrated to enable the otherparty respond appropriately. Awomolo faulted Kanu’s claim that a Court of Appeal decisionacquitted him, arguing that the said judgment was set aside by the SupremeCourt in a judgment delivered on December 15, 2023. He said: “The judgments of the Supreme Cou

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