The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resumed Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with a Department of State Services (DSS) operative admitting under cross-examination that no instrument of terrorism was found on the separatist leader.
Justice James Omotosho presided over the session, which featured a principal DSS operative identified only as “AAA” testifying behind a screen, in line with the court’s protective order for witnesses.
Led by the prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), and cross-examined by defence counsel Kanu Agabi (SAN), the witness disclosed that his involvement was limited to Kanu’s arrest, obtaining his statement, and escorting him to Abuja.
When asked whether he found any item considered offensive among those presented in court, AAA responded in the negative. He confirmed that only Kanu’s phone was analysed, but the DSS deemed the content immaterial and did not present the analysis in evidence.
“Do you agree that in the 10 years since you confiscated these items, many of them have lost their use?” Agabi asked. AAA answered, “Yes.”
He acknowledged that while records of returned items exist, he did not personally maintain them. He also confirmed that the woman arrested alongside Kanu was not in possession of any weapon and that her presence was not seen as aiding terrorism.
When asked directly, “Did you find any instrument of terrorism on the defendant?” AAA replied, “No.”
Further pressed on whether Kanu mentioned anyone working with him or if others were standing trial for Biafra agitation, AAA stated that the defendant did not name anyone and that he was unaware of any co-defendants in the current case.
Agabi put it to him, “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 others were initially charged with Kanu but their status was now unclear.
He referenced media reports about individuals like Simon Ekpa, who continues to support the Biafran movement and confirmed that DSS efforts to extradite Ekpa are ongoing.
Asked whether Kanu was charged with damaging any property, AAA replied, “Maybe not personally and virtually.” He alleged Kanu incited violence via social media but could not identify anyone who committed violence due to such incitement.
When reminded that Kanu had described Nigeria as a “zoo,” AAA said he remembered that statement, though he couldn’t confirm if Kanu had spoken about corruption, unemployment, or lack of development. He did recall Kanu asserting that IPOB was not armed.
Challenged on whether other deadly violence across the North was linked to separatist agitation, AAA answered, “To the best of my knowledge, no.”
Asked whether the killings of farmers, worshippers, students, and passengers in various attacks across Nigeria were connected to IPOB’s campaign, AAA replied, “No.”
Kanu’s trial, initially filed in 2015, has faced significant delays. While he fled the country, four others continued with the trial until it was severed by Justice Binta Nyako in 2018.
Kanu was later re-arrested in Kenya in June 2021, prompting the case’s current phase focused on terrorism and treason charges.
