A Department of State Services (DSS) official has said Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), admitted during interrogation that he incited Nigerians to attack police officers.
Gatekeepers News reports that the witness, identified as BBB, made the statement before Justice James Omotosho of federal high court in Abuja on Tuesday.
Led in evidence by government lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo, the DSS official said Kanu is also the founder of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of IPOB.
He added that Kanu operated Radio Biafra, an unlicensed station not registered with National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
BBB said he was among the team assigned to take Kanu’s statement on July 17, 2021, following a directive from the attorney-general of the federation to investigate Kanu over terrorism-related charges, adding that the questioning happened in the presence of Kanu’s lawyers, including Aloy Ejimakor.
The witness added that the assignment was given following a letter from attorney-general of the federation (AGF) requesting that the IPOB leader be investigated for alleged terrorism.
BBB said he handed over the AGF’s letter to Kanu and that after the IPOB leader read it, he showed his lawyers.
He 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”, and he admitted that the recordings were his own.
When asked by the prosecutor, Adegboyega Awomolo what Kanu was agitating for, the witness said he wanted the secession of the five south-east states, part of Kogi and parts of Benue from the rest of Nigeria. He also noted that the interrogation was captured on video.
Awomolo then sought to tender the AGF’s letter, and a copy of the video disc containing the interrogation session, but Kanu’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi, objected, saying the materials had not been provided to the defence beforehand, as required. He requested a delay in proceedings so they could properly review the documents.
Responding, Awomolo said the non-service of the document should not hinder the proceedings. However, the defense counsel argued that they needed 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.
Justice Omotosho ruled in favor of the defence, directing the prosecution to share all evidence with Kanu’s legal team.
The case was adjourned until May 7.
