Tag: Nnamdi Kanu

A Kenyan High Court sitting in Nairobi has declared the transfer and detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021 unlawful and illegal.

The court also awarded compensatory damages of 10 million Kenyan shillings against the Kenyan Government for gross violation of Kanu’s fundamental rights.

Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Justice E. Mwita, faulted both the Nigerian and Kenyan governments for a rendition of Kanu in gross violations of his rights as guaranteed by the constitutions of the two countries.

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Justice Nwita added that having entered Kenya lawfully, Kanu was subject to the protection offered by the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Government of Kenya had an obligation to uphold and protect his rights and fundamental freedom.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had ordered the release of Nnamdi Kanu on October 13, 2022, after striking out the terrorism and treasonable felony charge filed by the Nigerian government on grounds that the IPOB leader was not properly extradited from Kenya.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria, however, dismissed the Appeal Court’s decision.

In a judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court noted that the series of illegalities carried out by the government, including a military raid on his home prompting him to flee the country for safety, and his subsequent extradition from Kenya, were not enough to stop his trial.

…said between 170 and 200 security agents killed in South East

A Federal High Court in Abuja heard on Wednesday that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) did not issue a license to detained self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to import the radio transmitter he allegedly smuggled into the country to operate Radio Biafra.

An official of the Department of State Services (DSS) said this at the resumption of his testimony, as the fourth prosecution witness, in the ongoing terrorism trial of Kanu.

The witness, led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), said the number of security agents killed owing to the activities of members of IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the South East, was between 170 and 200.

He also gave details of how the late former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, was killed on May 30, 2021, in Owerri, Imo State.

The witness said shortly after he and members of his team recovered the transmitter from a premises in Ubuluisiuzor, Anambra State, and brought it to Abuja, the DSS wrote to the NBC to inspect it.

The witness told the court that on November 9, 2015, NBC sent an Engineer, who inspected the transmitter and wrote a report.

Awomolo then tendered a certified true copy of the provisional assessment of the radio transmitter report submitted by the NBC.

The witness was asked to read a portion of the report, which he did. He said the report indicated that the transmitter was a German-made one and that it was indeed a radio transmitter made for use on the FM frequency.

The witness said the report also stated that such a transmitter could only be procured and installed after being issued a licence and that the NBC has not licensed Radio Biafra to broadcast in Nigeria.

The DSS official added that an investigation by his team revealed that for one to operate a radio station in the country, one must apply to a regulator, who will issue one a licence after due clearance by relevant security agencies.

The witness said, “In this case (Kanu’s case), there was no application from the defendant; he brought the transmitter in illegally without approval.”

He also said the investigation confirmed that the defendant is the owner of the transmitter, which he kept in the premises of one Benjamin Madubugu.

The witness said Kanu later came into the country and inspected the transmitter, and made a video to satisfy members of the IPOB, who contributed money for the purchase of the transmitter.

He also read from some publications of the Vanguard newspaper, where it was reported that an arrested commander of ESN confessed to the activities of his group.

The witness said the ESN member, who he identified as Uzuoma Benjamin, aka Onye Army spoke about how he was recruited, how they allegedly received directivea from the defendant, who, he said directed them to kill security agents and ensure that a deceased member of the group, Ikonso, was buried with 2000 human heads.

The witness also read where the said Onye Army claimed that he and other members of his group used the heads of 10 girls to prepare charms for their protection.

He said investigation revealed that the invasion of Owerri prison by IPOB members was directed by Kanu in one of his broadcasts for his followers to attack and kill security operatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Read Also: FG plays Nnamdi Kanu’s broadcast, videos in court to establish alleged terrorism charge 

The DSS official said further investigation revealed that the defendant, in his broadcast, directed that Ikonso should be buried with 2000 heads, but that only 30 were obtained.

He said that when the DSS requested from the police to access the Onye Army, the police claimed he had escaped from custody.

He said during one of DSS’ agents’ raids of ESN members’ hideout, “we saw some ESN members, about seven, with human heads and some eating human flesh, which they said was for spiritual fortification.

“We could not find the Onye Army. The police said he had escaped from custody.”

He said there are records about the number of security agents allegedly killed in the South East and that the number stands between 170 and 200.

The witness who said two DSS officials, including his driver, were among the victims, said the cut across all security agencies.

On how the ESN members operate, the witness said they are combatants who carry arms and attack the homes of prominent individuals and traditional rulers in the region

He said that because they lacked sufficient operational tools, they sometimes set up roadblocks during which they hijacked vehicles for their operation.

The witness identified some public property which he said IPOB and ESN members attacked and destroyed in the South East, including police stations.

On how Gulak died, the witness said he was among the first responders to the scene where the late chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was killed and his corpse recovered.

He said on May 30, 2021, there was a total breakdown of law and order, as a result of the stay-at-home order declared by the defendant, through one of his broadcasts.

The witness said later that day, one of his officers informed him that a prominent politician was killed around Obiagwu and that when they got to the spot, they saw what had happened.

He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area told him that Gulak was in a hired cab when he was killed by IPOB members.

The witness said the driver told him that they were heading to the airport from Owerri town, when they saw a checkpoint mounted by men of the Nigerian Air Force who were preventing people from accessing the airport, but decided to take another route where they ran into a checkpoint by IPOB members.

He added that the driver further said the IPOB members ordered the three of them in the car to disembark, and demanded to know their tribes.

He said the driver told him he introduced himself as an Igbo person and that Gulak also said he was an Igbo man. But while he (the driver) could speak the Igbo language when they were asked to speak in Igbo, Gulak could not, following which they asked him to remove his cap and saw a Muslim prayer mark on his forehead.

The witness said the driver added that upon seeing the prayer marked, one of the IPOB members said “he is one of them,” following which they shot and killed him.

The DSS official, who said he served in Imo State between 2019 and 2023, told the court that the deceased’s corpse was evacuated from the spot where he was killed in his (the witness’) car

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the witness said there is no record of the importation of the transmitter said to have been smuggled into the country by Kanu.

He said he could not say when the transmitter was brought into the country, but that he was among those who located where it was kept in Anambra State and brought it to the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

On how they were able to locate the transmitter, the witness said his team used some equipment to analyse a video (showing Kanu inspecting the transmitter) to ascertain the location of the transmitter in Anambra.

He said he did not come across the names Benka Clearing and Forwarding and Chief Isaac Maduka in the course of investigation. He also said he was not aware that Benka cleared the transmitter, as claimed by Ikpeazu.

When asked if he was aware that Radio Biafra was registered in London and broadcast from there, the witness said that when Kanu was arrested in Lagos in 2016 he was arrested with his broadcast equipment.

He said he was not present when the defendant was arrested in Lagos and that all he said about his arrest in Lagos was what was relayed to him.

The witness said the two guns he said they found were not recovered in the container in which the transmitter was kept, but under the mattress of Benjamin Madubugu, who lived on the premises.

He added that Madubugu was later charged with unlawful possession of firearms.

The witness said the container was brought into the country by one Igwe Anyiba, who was later found to be living outside the country.

The witness said he was not aware that the Imo State Government stated the effect that Gulak’s killing was political.

At the conclusion of the cross-examination, the court discharged the witness, following which the judge, Justice James Omotosho, adjourned further hearing till Thursday for the prosecution to call its fifth witness.

•Video shows IPOB leader inspecting transmitter, other items

•Ohanaeze pleads for his release

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday  admitted in evidence a radio transmitter allegedly smuggled into the country by the detained self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Justice James Omotosho admitted the transmitter and  a 20-foot container in  which it was allegedly brought into the country from London, without relevant Customs documentations.

The  container was consequently marked as  Exhibit PWY and the radio transmitter as Exhibit PWZ during a brief proceeding conducted yesterday  at the headquarters  of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.

The court decided to relocate to the DSS premises for the inspection following an oral application by prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).

Awomolo made the application midway into the testimony of the fourth prosecution witness, who among others, testified about how the transmitter and container were impounded at a location in  Ubuluisiuzor in Ihiala Local Government of Anambra State.

The prosecuting lawyer said it was impossible for the prosecution to bring the transmitter and the container to the court premises and urged the court to relocate to where they were kept for the purpose of verification and for the prosecution to tender them.

Defence lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) did not object to Awomolo’s application which was subsequently granted by the judge.

Earlier during  his testimony, the fourth prosecution witness, a DSS agent,had  told the court that he knew Kanu as the leader of IPOB, a group campaigning for the secession  of the South Eastern states, parts of the South South, Benue and Kogi states from Nigeria to form Biafra republic.

He said Kanu utilised his Radio Biafra to propagate his messages and incite his followers to engage in violence and other terrorism activities.

The witness, who said he was among those who investigated the allegations against Kanu, told the court that sometime in October 15, 2021 his agency got intelligence that Kanu smuggled into the country an FM radio transmitter, in a container.

He said the transmitter, which was concealed among household items in the container, was not declared to the Nigeria Customs and that it was to be used for Radio Biafra.

The witness said he later saw a video where the defendant (Kanu) and one of his associates, Benjamin Madubugu were inspecting the transmitter, which they described as a game changer.

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“After I watched the video, I was instructed to obtain a warrant, locate the transmitter and relocate it,” the witness said, adding that he  and others located the transmitter in the premises where Modubugu lived with his family and a man  named Francis and relocated it.

He said when the search warrant, obtained from a Chief Magistrates Court in Ihiala, Anambra State was executed at  the residence of  Benjamin Madubugu at Ubuluisiuzor, they found the radio transmitter in a 20-feet container; two pump action guns (without licenses), lap top computers, some ammunition, small quantity of marijuana, among others.

“The transmitter was concealed with household items, including second hand clothes. When we asked Benjamin about the other items that we saw in the video, he said one Chimezie came to take them away.

Awomolo subsequently tendered a video recording, showing Kanu, inspecting the container and its contents, including the transmitter.

The video showed Kanu, being assisted by an individual and being recorded by another, opened the container, identified all its contents and explained how the transmitter would be deployed.

The video also showed Kanu, with his hand on the transmitter saying: “This is the monster itself. This is what will destroy enemies of Biafra…this is the  nuclear monster that will destroy the zoo.”

When asked what Kanu meant by “the zoo,” the witness said the defendant was referring to Nigeria.

The witness said Kanu inspected the container at  Madubugu’s premises in Ubuluisiuzor in Ihiala, Anambra State.

He said after recovering the transmitter, they arrested Madubugu, who later made a statement, detailing how the container got to his premises.

The statement, written by Madubugu on November 3, 2015, was admitted in evidence by the court and later read by the witness.

In the statement, Madubugu admitted among others, that he agreed to house the container on the grounds that he would  keep it (the container) after all the contents would have  been evacuated.

Madubugu said Kanu came to inspect that container and said it would be used to broadcast Radio Biafra activities.

He added that Kanu came to his house with Chimezie between March and April 2015 to make the video of the inspection of the container.

The witness said Madubugu was later arraigned with Kanu before the former judge handling the case, Justice Binta Nyako. He added that the joint trial was later separated when Kanu jumped bail, adding that Madubugu is still on trial before Justice Nyako.

PW4 who said he once served in the South East, told the court that the activities of members of IPOB and its military wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) have greatly hampered socio-economic life of that part of the country.

The witness said: “ESN is the military arm of IPOB. All ESN members are IPOB members, but not all IPOB members are ESN.

“They carry out instructions of the defendant, which he broadcast through Radio Biafra. They are trained in the act of guerilla warfare.

“They engage in acts of terrorism.They maim, kill and propagate hate against other ethnic groups, particularly the Hausa/Fulani.”

The witness said his agency has a desk assigned to monitor and record every broadcast made by Kanu on Radio Biafra.

Awomolo later tendered some audio recordings of the broadcast, which the court admitted in evidence.

In one of the broadcasts, made on May 29, 2021, the defendant used disparaging words in describing Works Minister David Umahi, former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha and his successor, Hope Uzodinma

He described South East political leaders as fools, vagabonds and idiots and proceeded to declare a sit at home for May 31, 2021.

Kanu warned that anybody who disobeyed his sit at home order or ventured out of his or her house on the said day would  die.

“If you come out on the 31 you are going to die and if the zoo army tries anything they will be confronted,” Kanu said, claiming that “the Nigerian Army is made up of cowards, who always attack civilians.”

In another broadcast he made on May 30, Kanu called for complete and total lockdown in the South East and warned that whoever opened  his or her shop on the day would be burnt with the shop.

In his broadcast on May 31, Kanu was heard telling his followers that he did not ask them to attack businesses in the area, but to focus on their enemies.

The PW4 said he knew a commander of ESN called Nwokike Anyinayo Andy, who was popularly known as Ikonso, but killed by security forces on the 24, April 2021 in his home town, Awomama, Oru East Local Government of Imo State.

The witness said Kanu did a broadcast on April 25, 2021 in which he mourned the death of Ikonso, spoke highly of him and vowed that there shall be repercussion.

Kanu claimed that Ikonso was killed in his sleep in his home by state security personnel and not on the battlefield.

Said Ikonso would be mourned in a very special way and would  be buried in a very special way.

The witness told the court that in one of his broadcasts, Kanu claimed that Ikonso would be buried with 2000 heads, but that when they arrested an IPOB member – Emeyiri Uzoma Benjamin known as Onye Army –  he wrote  a statement and said they got only  30 heads.

The prosecution tendered through the witness a publication in Vanguard newspaper, detailing the alleged statement made by Benjamin.

Further hearing in the case was adjourned to June 18, 19 and 20 within which the prosecution is expected to close its case.

Ohanaeze begs FG for Nnamdi Kanu’s release

The Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide made a fresh plea with  the Federal Government for Kanu’s release.

It described his continued detention as unjust.

This plea was part of a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day Ohanaeze Ndigbo Leadership Retreat held at the Landmark – Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, from June 4 to 5, 2025.

The communique was jointly signed by the President General, Senator Azuta-Mbata, his deputy and Chairman, Planning Committee, Prince Okey Nwadinobi, Secretary General, Emeka Sibeudu, and National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, on Tuesday.

The retreat, themed “Rebuilding Our Foundation,” brought together prominent Igbo leaders and stakeholders from diverse sectors, including academia, religious and traditional institutions, organised private sector, town unions, youth and women groups, and the diaspora.

It was chaired by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, and declared open by Enugu State Governor  Peter Mbah represented by his deputy, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai.

The  retreat “unequivocally condemned in strong terms, the continuous detention of Nnamdi Kanu, whom before now has been acquitted by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

The communique urged the federal government to “find an alternative solution to his matter and release him.”

The retreat emphasised unity, economic revitalisation through investments in Igbo land, and cultural rebirth rooted in traditional values such as “Igwebuike (strength in unity), Onye aghala nwanne ya (leave no one behind), and Ako bu ije (wisdom is key to progress).”

Also, participants resolved to support the Professorial Endowment Chair in seven universities across the Ohanaeze states, a project aimed at promoting research in Igbo language, culture, and history.

Ohanaeze also announced plans to present its programmes and a draft constitution to Ime-Obi, the organisation’s highest decision-making body, in due course.

Meanwhile, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata asked  Ndigbo to rally support for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Professorial Endowment Chair in the seven universities.

Our correspondent reports that the professorial chair is a project aimed at promoting research in Igbo language, culture, and history.

Senator Mbata, who spoke while inaugurating a seven-man Board of Trustees of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Professorial Endowment Chair, in Enugu, told the board that its mandate is primarily to provide a strategic pathway and oversight for the seven Igbo Professorial Endowment Chair and to ensure the effective management of the endowment resources and to promote its aims and objectives.

The board comprises  Prof. Damian Opata as chairman, Prof. Fred O. Eze (Secretary), Prince Okey Nwadinobi, Prof. Chris Umezurike, Prof. Godwin Onu, Prof. Ossy Nwebo and Prof. Chidi Osuagwu are members.

He reminded the trustees that Ohanaeze Ndigbo NEC carefully selected them based on their track record of scholarship and integrity. He further expressed gratitude to them for accepting to serve Igbo nation in this capacity.

In his response, the Chairman of the board Prof. Damian Opata thanked the President General and Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Executive Committee(NEC), for deeming them worthy of this responsibility. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, he assured the President General that they would not take this duty for granted.

• Threatens to order her arrest

• Rejects govt evidence against IPOB leader in counsel’s absence

• Video shows Kanu threatening violence in Nigeria over Biafra

A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday issued an order barring a lady identified as Favour from attending proceedings in the ongoing trial terrorism trial of the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The lady, who is said to be sister-in-law to Kanu, was also barred from further entering the premises of the court in Abuja, except where she is personally involved in any case in the court.

Justice James Omotosho issued the orders after holding her in contempt of the court for engaging in live broadcast and publicity of the court’s proceedings on her social media platform.

Justice Omotosho averred that Favour was habitually broadcasting the live proceedings of the court and inviting comments from her followers.

The judge said Favour’s conduct was disrespectful of the institution of the court and amounted to contempt in the face of the court.

He threatened to order Favour’s arrest should she continue her contemptuous conduct.

Justice Omotosho, who ordered Favour out of the court, said she had committed thrice engaged in unauthorised publication of the court’s proceedings.

The judge recalled that he once barred Favour from three sessions of the court’s sitting when she live-streamed the court’s proceedings.

He threatened to henceforth send whoever engages in similar conduct to prison, warning lawyers who engage in similar conduct to desist from it.

In an earlier ruling, Justice Omotosho upheld the objection raised by Kanu’s legal team to the admissibility of statements obtained from the defendant by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the absence of his lawyers.

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Justice Omotosho marked the statements rejected and expunged from the court’s record video recordings of the interview/statement-writing sessions that Kanu had with DSS officials in October 2015.

The video recordings were earlier admitted in evidence by the court during Wednesday’s proceedings and marked Exhibits PWQ and PWR.

In continuing his testimony yesterday, the third prosecution witness (PW3), who was led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Suraj Saida (SAN), identified a video recording of an interview session Kanu had with an online platform, Sarahara Reporters. The video was admitted by the court in evidence and later played.

In the video, Kanu calls Nigeria a zoo, making allegations against some prominent Igbo figures and threatening to deal with them.

Kanu accused former Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Ike Nwanchukwu, of killing the Igbo. He also accused ex-Anambra Governor Jim Nwobodo of betraying Alex Ekwueme, a fellow Igbo man, among others.

Kanu also accused the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, Peter Obi, of killing some Igbos and having their bodies dumped in a river. He accused former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha of Islamising the state.

Also in the video, Kanu could be seen threatening violence if his Biafra objective was not achieved.

“If they do not give us Biafra, there will be nothing living in the zoo. Nothing will survive there.

“I do not see Biafra happening peacefully. There is no freedom out of a peaceful process,” he said.

Welcoming the attack on Enugu State’s Government House, Kanu promised to support anything that would overthrow what he called the existing corrupt establishment.

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), the PW3 said he did not investigate the veracity of Kanu’s allegations against the prominent Igbo indigenes he called out.

The witness, an operative of the DSS, said his assignment was only to ascertain from Kanu if he granted the interview, which he said the defendant confirmed.

The PW3 said he was not aware that Nwanchukwu, Nwobodo, Okorocha and Obi, whom Kanu accused in the interview, were killed after the last National Conference.

Further hearing in the case has been adjourned till June 13.

A prosecution witness in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), yesterday said the defendant admitted smuggling a radio transmitter into the country.

The witness, a Department of State Services (DSS) official, identified a video recording of the transmitter in Ubuluisiuzor, Anambra State.

The video recording, stored on a disc, was one of about four admitted in evidence.

The DSS denied subjecting Kanu to duress and asking him to indict ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and former Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The third prosecution witness (PW3), led in evidence by prosecution lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), said he knew Kanu as the founder of Radio Biafra, which he allegedly used to incite the public to maim and kill.

He said he first met Kanu on 21 October 21, 2015 when he and three others were asked to interview him and obtain his statements.

He said the interview sessions, which happened between October 21 and 24, 2015, were recorded on video.

Defence lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), objected when Awomolo applied to tender the written statements, saying they were not made voluntarily.

Justice James Omotosho halted proceedings briefly to allow one of the lawyers for the defendant, Paul Erokoro (SAN), to interact with Kanu.

When Erokoro returned, he told the court that Kanu told him that DSS officials denied him access to his lawyer, threatened not to allow him on bail and denied him the one hour granted him daily to receive fresh air, given his health challenge.

The lawyer said Kanu also told him that his interrogators asked him to say things about ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, which were not his words.

Justice Omotosho ordered the conduct of a trial-within-trial to ascertain the voluntariness or others of the defendant’s statements.

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Awomolo then called PW3 as the prosecution’s first witness in the trial-within-trial. The witness denied that Kanu was subjected to any form of duress or coercion.

The witness faulted Kanu’s claim that he was kept in solitary confinement in an underground cell.

PW3, who said Kanu was given preferential treatment and served bottled water during the interview sessions, said he was surprised to hear the allegations made by the defendant.

He also denied that anyone asked Kanu to say things about Jonathan and Okorocha, adding that the defendant “spoke voluntarily and truthfully in the interviews.”

The DSS officials said the defendant was referring to their interactions over the interview he (Kanu) earlier granted to Sahara Reporters in respect of which they asked for some clarifications.

He said: “During the October 24, 2015, interview, the Sahara Reporters interview was played to him to confirm if he granted the interview, which he confirmed.”

The witness added that in the Sahara Reporters interview, Kanu referred to Nigeria as a zoo and claimed that Okorocha and others had Islamised Nigeria. He added that Kanu referred to the then President Muhammadu Buhari “in a very derogatory language.”

Three of the recordings of the interview sessions were played in court, showing Kanu, wearing a shirt and a pair of trousers, interacting freely with the DSS officials.

He smiled at some points and demanded to be served a particular brand of bottled water, which was handed to him by the DSS officials.

In the video, Kanu tried to rationalise his actions, including his many broadcasts, which he said were intended to bring about changes in the affairs of the country.

He said IPOB was meant to actualise the self-determination of the people of Biafra, while the Biafra Volunteer Force, patterned after the Salvation Army, is an army of volunteers who help to propagate the messages of IPOB.

Under cross-examination by Erokoro, PW1 (who was the prosecution’s sole witness in the trial within trial) insisted that Kanu was never subjected to coercion and that all the complaints he raised were addressed.

While testifying as the sole defence witness in the trial-within-trial, Kanu insisted that he was denied access to his lawyers and threatened by a DSS investigator, whom he described as Mr. Brown Ukuaba, an Assistant Director, Investigation.

Kanu said when he was first arrested in Lagos in 2015, he was kept in chains and later blindfolded while being transported to Abuja. He said he was kept in an underground cell and solitary confinement.

He claimed that the video recordings played in court were edited.

The Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday heard that the Eastern Security Network (ESN) set up by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is an illegal group, unlike the Amotekun established by Southwest states.

An official of the Department of State Services (DSS) made the distinction while testifying as the second prosecution witness in the ongoing terrorism trial of the IPOB leader.

The witness, while being re-examined by prosecuting counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), said unlike Amotekun, which is backed by laws passed by the various Houses of Assembly of the six Southwest states, ESN is not statute-backed.

“ESN and Amotekun are not the same. I know that states in the Southwest passed laws to legalise Amotekun. But ESN is not registered. ESN is illegal. Amotekun is recognised by law,” the witness said.

The witness agreed that the Director General of the DSS once advocated for communicating policing efforts, under the guidance and approval of security agencies, as a measure against insecurity.

Earlier, a defence lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), tendered three video recordings, contained in a flash drive, which the court admitted in evidence. The three video recordings were subsequently played in open court.

One of the videos showed the DSS DG speaking at an event where he suggested that communities should endeavour to create a first line of defence against bandits and other invaders.

The DSS cited examples of some communities that were able to repel invaders on some occasions and noted that it was practically impossible for security agencies to protect every society in the country.

The DSS boss was heard saying: “The practical approach to mobilising people is to get everyone involved. It is impossible for security agencies to deploy to every part of the country.

“What we need to do is to make communities set up the first line of defence. We have to allow some level of armament for the communities to rise and defend themselves first but under the guidance and approval of security agencies. The time to start it is now.”

When asked by Erokoro whether the DSS DG was not asking for communities to defend themselves, the witness emphasised that the DG stressed that such communities must come for guidance and approval from security agencies.

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Another video showed former Defence Minister, General Theophilus Danjuma, addressing a gathering.

Danjuma was heard saying members of the armed forces were not neutral in the ongoing killings across the country.

“They collude with the armed bandits that kill people, that kill Nigerians. They facilitate their movements. They cover them.

“If you are depending on the armed forces to protect you, you will all die one by one,” Danjuma said in the video.

Asked by Erokoro who the speaker in the video was, the witness confirmed that he was Danjuma.

The witness, however, rejected Erokoro’s request for his opinion on the implication of what Danjuma said.

He asked Erokoro to contact Danjuma for the interpretation of his message.

The third video showed Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, complaining about some killings in his state and blaming it on the politicians.

Asked whether Uzodinma’s position did not contradict the witness’ claim that IPOB members were behind killings in Orlu in Imo, the witness said his position was informed by the outcome of their investigation.

The witness noted that, while Uzodinma failed to mention names of victims of the killings he referred to, the DSS’ investigation was specific on the identity of those killed by suspected IPOB members, who were enforcing the sit-at-home directed by Kanu.

“Our investigation revealed those who were killed by suspected IPOB members and we mentioned their names. The governor did not mention any name of people he said were killed,” the witness said.

The witness said he was aware that IPOB had been proscribed and that Kanu had been a member of IPOB before and after its proscription.

On whether he knew what the #EndSARS protest was about, the witness said it was about the call by some people for the police’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to be scrapped.

The witness also said he was aware that some states, including Lagos and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), constituted commissions of enquiry to probe the EndSARS protest and other related incidents.

The witness agreed with Erokoro that the report from the commission set up by Lagos State did not indict IPOB and that it did not classify the protest as an act of terrorism.

Erokoro tendered the report issued by the Lagos Commission of Enquiry, which the court admitted in evidence.

Justice James Omotosho, before adjourning for the day, gave the prosecution six days within which to call all its witnesses and conclude its case.

The judge, following an agreement by parties, adjourned till May 28 and 29, June 6, 16, 18 and 19.

Justice Omotosho indicated that the defence would be allocated nine days afterwards.