A witness in Nnamdi Kanu’s trial testified that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader confessed during interrogation to urging Nigerians to attack police officers.
The witness, identified only as “BBB,” a DSS official, appeared before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
Led by federal government counsel Adegboyega Awomolo, the DSS official stated that Kanu leads IPOB and founded its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The witness also claimed Kanu ran an unlicensed radio station, Radio Biafra, without approval from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The DSS official said he was part of the team assigned to take Kanu’s statement on July 17, 2021, following a request from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to investigate alleged terrorism.
According to the witness, Kanu’s statement was recorded in the presence of his lawyers, including Aloy Ejimakor.
He added that he presented the AGF’s letter to Kanu, who read it and shared it with his legal team.
The witness told the court that broadcast clips of Kanu’s speech on Radio Biafra were played to him, including the one wherein the IPOB leader “called for an attack on police officers”.
The DSS official said the IPOB leader “admitted that the recordings were his own”.
When asked by the federal government’s lawyer what Kanu was agitating for, the witness said the separatist leader wanted the secession of the five south-east states, part of Kogi and parts of Benue from the rest of Nigeria. He added that the interrogation was captured on video.
Afterwards Awomolo sought to tender the AGF’s letter, and a copy of the video disc containing the interrogation session.
However, Kanu Agabi, the IPOB leader’s lawyer, objected over the absence of the materials in the proof of evidence served on them.
Agabi said it was necessary for the prosecution to “give the defendant copies all documents and materials”, which will be relied on for prosecution of the case.
The defense counsel sought an adjournment to enable the prosecution to “do the needful”.
Responding, Awomolo said the non-service of the document should not hinder the proceedings.
But the defense counsel argued that they need time to study the materials.
Awomolo said non-service of the documents could be a “mistake” since he recently took over the case, and agreed that the case should be adjourned.
In his ruling, Omotosho held that the defence was entitled to all the documents and materials the prosecution planned to rely on.
He ordered the prosecution to furnish the defense with all the necessary documents.
Omotosho subsequently adjourned the matter to May 7 to enable the prosecution to serve the defence all the necessary documents.
The DSS official is expected to continue the testimony during the next date.
Kanu is currently facing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony. He has since pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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