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Court Commences Nnamdi Kanu’s Trail on Terrorism, Witness to Testifies Behind Closed Doors
The Federal Government on Tuesday formally opened its terrorism case against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the first prosecution witness testifying behind closed doors.
Presiding Judge, Justice James Omotosho, granted an application by the Federal Government allowing witnesses to testify in camera, shielding their identities from the public for security reasons.
Chief Adegboyega Solomon, SAN, counsel to the Federal Government, had filed an ex-parte application seeking the court’s permission to protect the identities of witnesses scheduled to testify against Kanu. Solomon argued that given the gravity of the terrorism charges, safeguarding the witnesses was necessary.
Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, did not oppose the application. Consequently, Justice Omotosho ruled that while witnesses’ identities would be concealed from the public, the defendant must be able to see those testifying against him.
During the commencement of trial, the first prosecution witness, an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), testified under the pseudonym “PWAAA,” in line with the court’s protective orders.
In his testimony, PWAAA detailed how DSS operatives, acting on intelligence, conducted a room-to-room search at a hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, on October 15, 2015, leading to Kanu’s arrest. The witness explained that Kanu’s name did not appear on the hotel manifest as he had checked in under a native al
The DSS operative recounted that during the arrest, several items were recovered from Kanu’s hotel room, including IPOB pamphlets, complementary cards, laptops, iPads, microphones, flash drives, power adapters, mobile phones, perfumes, ATM cards, and a wristwatch. The items, brought to court in four suitcases, were displayed in open court and admitted into evidence without objection from the defence.
The court also admitted a video recording of Kanu’s interrogation and a written statement he made while in DSS custody. Reading from the statement, PWAAA said Kanu asserted that he was fighting for the emancipation of his people, describing self-determination as a fundamental human right rather than a criminal act.
Kanu reportedly maintained that his campaign for the rights of the South-East, South-South, and parts of Benue and Kogi States was constitutionally protected and not an act of terrorism. He cited relevant laws to support his claims and noted that his statement to the DSS was made without the presence of legal counsel.
The witness further testified that Kanu admitted establishing and operating Radio Biafra in London, adding that the station was registered overseas and not licensed by Nigeria’s National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) because it did not operate within Nigerian territory.
In conclusion, the DSS operative confirmed that Kanu acknowledged being the founder and leader of IPOB, and admitted that Radio Biafra was neither registered nor licensed under Nigerian broadcasting regulations.
Justice Omotosho adjourned further proceedings to May 2, 2025, for cross-examination of the prosecution witness.
