The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), continued on Friday before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court, Abuja. This session focused on the cross-examination of a key witness, who stated that no terrorism-related items were found on Kanu.
The court had allowed the Federal Government’s request for witnesses to testify behind screens.
Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), a former Attorney General of the Federation, represented the prosecution, while Kanu Agabi led the defense.
A Department of State Services (DSS) operative, identified only as AAA, appeared as PW1.
When questioned about whether he was the officer conducting the interview in the video shown in court, AAA clarified that five officers were present in the room and he was one of them.
AAA explained that his involvement in the investigation was limited to arresting Kanu, obtaining his statement, and escorting him to Abuja for further investigation.
Regarding the items presented in court, AAA was asked if any appeared offensive, to which he responded, “No.” When asked if he had analyzed any of the items recovered, he stated that he had only analyzed Kanu’s phone.
AAA mentioned that although the phone was in evidence, no analysis was presented because they considered it irrelevant to the case.
When questioned about whether many of the items had lost their use in the decade since their confiscation, AAA agreed, saying, “Yes.”
He was also asked if there was a record of the items the DSS had returned to Kanu. AAA confirmed there was, though he noted that he hadn’t kept the records himself.
PW1 further testified that he did not find any instruments of violence on the woman with Kanu, nor did he view her as aiding terrorism.
When Agabi asked if he found “any instrument of terrorism on the defendant,” AAA responded, “No.”
In response to a question about whether he had contacted anyone whom Kanu had mentioned as working with him, AAA stated that Kanu hadn’t named anyone. He added that he wasn’t sure if others were facing terrorism charges alongside Kanu.
Agabi then remarked, “I put it to you that there’s no other person in the whole of Nigeria who is standing terrorism trial for Biafra agitation except the defendant,” to which AAA responded that he knew of some people who had stood trial with Kanu earlier, but he wasn’t aware of the current status of their trials.
AAA also mentioned that he had seen on social media and in newspapers that Kanu had supporters, such as Simon Ekpa, who continued the agitation. He said the DSS was working on extraditing Simon Ekpa to Nigeria to face charges.
When asked whether Kanu was charged with damaging anyone’s property, AAA responded, “Maybe not personally and virtually.” He explained that there were social media posts where Kanu was inciting violence but said he didn’t know of anyone who had committed violent acts because of these incitements.
