NNAMDI KANU GIVEN PRESIDENTIAL TREATMENT IN COURT, DSS WITNESS TESTIFIES BEFORE COURT
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
On Wednesday, a Department of State Services (DSS) agent informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was treated like a president while in the secret service’s custody.
This came as the court allowed the admission of three videos, one of which showed Kanu examining a radio transmitter that had allegedly been smuggled into the nation.
Kanu said that he made comments under duress during the reopened hearing of the purported terrorism trial in October and November of 2015. These were some of the highlights of the session.
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Claims that DSS utilised threats of solitary confinement to coerce the defendant into making statements were rejected by the DSS operator, the third prosecution witness, also known as Mr CCC, during the trial-within-a-trial.
The defendant had claimed that one Mr Brown, a DSS operative, made the threat about solitary confinement in the ‘dungeon.’ But the witness clarified that the names of the officers who took part in the interview are James, Ibrahim, and Collins, with no Mr Brown among them.
Mr CCC stated that Kanu was given presidential treatment and expressed shock at the allegations of using any form of force to get him to make certain statements including calling Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari unprintable names, and also alleging that Senator Rochas Okorocha ‘Islamised’ his people.
These are statements he allegedly made when he granted an interview with a US-based online medium known as Sahara Reporters. It was during the same interview that, according to the witness, Kanu used the term ‘Zoo’ to refer to Nigeria.
The contentious items are three written statements made at the DSS Headquarters by Kanu on October 23rd, 24th and November 4th, 2015. These statements along with a video recording of his oral statements of October 21 and 23, 2015 were also tendered.
Justice James Omotosho took the path of trial-within-trial to clear the air on the admissibility or otherwise of the statements the defendant claims were obtained under duress.
In a ruling, the judge said “It is law that whenever an issue of involuntariness is raised, the Evidence Act and the law” requires that an order for trial within trial be made to determine whether a statement was taken under duress or otherwise. He added that establishing duress will therefore make the statement in contention inadmissible.
Justice Omotosho further informed parties in the case that at the end of the trial-within-trial, the court will also rule on how the absence of the defendant’s lawyers affects the case of the defendant.
In the three footage played in court by the prosecution to prove that Nnamdi Kanu made his statements voluntarily, the Biafra nation agitator admitted to being the founder and director of Radio Biafra.
In one of the footage, Kanu claimed that the Biafra cause enjoyed funding across the globe from all those who believe in the ideals of the secessionist agenda. He claimed the group has representatives in over 80 countries.
At some point during trial-within-trial, Kanu took the witness stand to give evidence in his case.
The defendant claimed, in his testimony, that he was struck by a DSS operative when he was picked up in Lagos in 2015. But the same operative later apologised on their way to the airport to Abuja.
Meanwhile, Justice Omotosho has adjourned the matter till Thursday, May 29, 2025, for the continuation of the hearing and to deliver ruling on the admissibility of the statements.
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