The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), continued before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the prosecution presenting key exhibits to link the defendant to acts of terrorism.
Led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adegboyega Awomolo, the prosecution’s witness, identified as BBB, resumed his testimony.
He focused on a petition allegedly written by the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and addressed to the Department of State Services (DSS).
This petition accused Kanu of terrorism, murder, and inciting violence against Nigerian security agencies.
The court admitted the document, dated June 17, 2021, as Exhibit PWF without any objection from the defense team, led by Kanu Agabi, SAN.
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The witness read from the petition, stating that Kanu, through various broadcasts, allegedly incited attacks on police and military personnel, resulting in killings, arson, and the destruction of public institutions like police stations and correctional centers.
According to the witness, Kanu’s broadcasts instructed followers that “police and army seen, should be brought down and their guns seized and used.”
The petition also detailed several violent incidents allegedly stemming from Kanu’s directives, asserting they posed a significant threat to national security.
The court also admitted Kanu’s written statement to the DSS, dated July 17, 2021, as Exhibit PEG. In this statement, Kanu declined to make a new written submission, stating he had already addressed the allegations.
Awomolo then led the witness to identify a flash drive purported to contain Kanu’s broadcasts. Despite an objection from the defense, the court admitted the flash drive and its certificate of compliance as Exhibits PWA and PW1, respectively.
During the court session, several video and audio clips allegedly featuring Nnamdi Kanu were played.
In one video, reportedly from December 12, Kanu was heard addressing followers from “the blessed land of Biafra,” announcing the establishment of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and urging resistance against “Fulani domination.”
He also warned governors against political compromises, declaring that “no Fulani parading as herdsman shall be allowed in our land.”
In other recordings played in court, a voice identified by the DSS witness as belonging to Nnamdi Kanu could be heard instructing people to “go and burn down Lagos,” “set Murtala Mohammed Airport on fire,” “burn down that Tinubu hotel,” “go into the bush, collect policemen’s guns and kill them,” and “every Federal government building in Lagos should be set on fire. Any government vehicle you see, burn them. Manufacture your own weapons, ambush them.”
In another audio recording, the same voice allegedly belonging to Kanu was heard telling people who called into his program: “any police officer you kill, go to their station and set it on fire. Kill them. They are janjaweeds.” The voice also stated, “Tinubu is in trouble, he cannot run. Anywhere he runs to in this world we will find him,” and “If we don’t behave like mad people in this zoological republic, this revolution will not work,” urging listeners to “Start killing soldiers now, set ambush for them, dig holes on the roads so that when their vehicle come it will somersault and they will die.”
This particular audio was reportedly from the End SARS protest period in October 2020, as the voice could be heard taking calls from people across Nigeria providing updates on local events.
In another instance, the voice allegedly belonging to Kanu was heard announcing a “total sit-at-home situation in the southeast tomorrow,” threatening, “Nobody is allowed to come out no matter who you are. If you dare open your shop tomorrow we’ll burn you inside that shop!”
Another audio recording allegedly captured Kanu telling someone over the phone to “take those guns” already in Edo State and “kill some army officers, take their guns and use it to attack the others.”
PW2-Mr BBB testified that these recordings were played to Nnamdi Kanu, and he admitted to making them.
Another video shown in court depicted Kanu addressing an audience in a conference-like setting, where he remarked that guns and weapons were necessary for the Biafran struggle.
The final video played showed Kanu stating that the Fulani ethnic group aimed to take over the entire country, similar to their alleged takeover of Hausa territories, asserting that “The only way to stop this is by a revolution.”
A CD plate containing Nnamdi Kanu’s interview/interrogation at the DSS headquarters on July 17, 2021, was also presented in court and admitted as Exhibits PWI and PWI-1, despite an initial objection from the defense, who stated their reasons would be provided later.
Additionally, the Federal Government gazette dated September 20, 2017, which officially proscribed IPOB as a terrorist organization, was presented and admitted as Exhibit PWJ.
Prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, requested an adjournment until Thursday, May 8, 2025, for the continuation of the hearing.
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