Mr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has announced his readiness to appear in court as a witness in the trial of the proscribed IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, should he be legally subpoenaed.
Wike made the statement on Friday, October 24, during his monthly media parley in Abuja, monitored by Persecondnews.
He explained that a court appearance requires a formal court order, not merely a news report, clarifying that an individual must be subpoenaed before they are required to testify.
He said: “Nobody has served or subpoenaed me. So because I saw Wike listed I should run to court. If I am served, if I am subpoenaed to come and give witness, or give evidence.
“I must obey the court, I must appear. But not on pages of newspapers, nobody does that.”
Addressing questions about being named as a witness by Nnamdi Kanu, Minister Wike expressed no curiosity or concern, saying it was “not something to bother himself about.”
He instead asked the newsmen to go and question the source—the individual who had put his name on the witness list—as to their reasons.
When asked about a possible political solution for Kanu’s trial, the Minister refused to offer any comment on the matter.
Persecondnews had reported that Kanu on Tuesday, October 21, informed the Abuja Federal High Court that he will be inviting Wike, former Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Theophilus Danjuma; and former Chief of Army Staff, retired Gen. Tukur Buratai, as witnesses in his terrorism case.
Others include Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; and former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Kanu also listed former Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN); former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, among others whose identities he withheld.
He pledged to submit sworn statements from all voluntary witnesses and to notify the prosecution within a reasonable time.
He assured the court that “no precious time of the honourable court would be delayed,” adding that “justice must not only be done but be manifestly seen to have been done.”
Persecondnews recalls that Kanu has been in DSS detention in Abuja since he was rearrested in Kenya and subjected to extraordinary rendition back to Nigeria on June 27, 2021.
He was arrested by Kenyan security operatives in collaboration with Nigerian authorities.
