The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resumed today before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court granted the Federal Government’s request for witnesses to testify behind screens, and the cross-examination of the first Principal Witness (PW1) took place.
The prosecution was led by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), a former Attorney General of the Federation, while Kanu Agabi headed the defense team.
A Department of State Services (DSS) personnel, identified only as AAA, appeared as PW1.
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During cross-examination, AAA confirmed he was one of five officers present during an interview shown in court.
He stated his involvement was limited to arresting Kanu, obtaining his statement, and escorting him to Abuja for further investigation.
When asked about items presented in court, AAA said nothing appeared inherently offensive.
He admitted to only analyzing Kanu’s phone, which was presented as evidence, but no analysis of it was submitted as it was deemed immaterial.
AAA agreed that many of the confiscated items would likely be unusable after ten years.
He stated that records existed for items supposedly returned to Kanu but he didn’t personally maintain them.
He confirmed that no weapons were found on the woman accompanying Kanu during his arrest and did not consider her presence as facilitating terrorism.
He also stated that no instruments of terrorism were found on either the woman or Kanu.
AAA said Kanu did not mention anyone working with him during interrogation, and he was unaware if others were currently on trial with Kanu for Biafra agitation, though he knew some were tried earlier.
He mentioned reading in the media about Kanu’s supporters, like Simon Ekpa, and the DSS’s efforts to extradite him.
When questioned about property damage charges, AAA said Kanu might not be charged personally but “virtually” through social media messages inciting violence, though he didn’t know of anyone who acted on these incitements.
AAA couldn’t recall Kanu mentioning corruption, youth unemployment, or lack of development but remembered him calling Nigeria a “Zoo.” He recalled Kanu stating that IPOB was unarmed.
Regarding killings in various parts of northern Nigeria, AAA said they were not, to his knowledge, related to separatist agitation. He agreed that highways were not entirely safe but considered them largely safe.
He also acknowledged numerous killings in farms, churches, mosques, and kidnappings in schools and trains were not linked to separatist movements.
The case, involving terrorism and treasonable felony charges, began in 2015 after Kanu’s initial arrest in Lagos. Delays prevented witness testimonies and exhibit presentations until recently.
Initially, four others were charged alongside Kanu, but their trials were separated in 2018 after Kanu fled Nigeria. He was re-arrested in Kenya in June 2021.
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