Kanu was arrested in Lagos hotel, says DSS
The Department of State Services (DSS) revealed that it apprehended Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), at a Lagos hotel in 2015 after he covertly entered the country.
During Kanu’s terrorism trial, the first prosecution witness, whose identity was concealed for security reasons, testified behind a screen. The witness, a DSS operative identified as PWAAA, provided evidence under the guidance of prosecuting lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).
PWAAA disclosed that, acting on intelligence, an eight-member DSS team conducted a room-to-room search at a hotel in Ikeja on October 15, 2015, leading to Kanu’s arrest. The search was necessary as Kanu’s name did not appear in the hotel’s records.
PWAAA said the operatives discovered he checked in with another native name.
Items recovered from him include IPOB pamphlets, IPOB complementary cards, laptops, IPADs, microphones, microphone stands, flash drives, power adaptors for mixers, various brands of phones, perfumes, ATM cards, and a wristwatch, among others.
The items, brought to court in four suites, were displayed and admitted as exhibits by Justice James Omotosho.
The witness told the court that the interrogation of Kanu was recorded and that he admitted to being the founder and leader of IPOB.
He added that the defendant admitted to establishing and operating Radio Biafra and that he did not register it with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The video of Kanu’s interrogation was played in court while the statement he made on October 15, 2015, was read out.
In the video, Kanu admitted setting up Radio Biafra in London and not registering it with the NBC “because there was no need for it”.
He stated he was fighting for the emancipation of the people of Southeast, Southsouth and parts of Benue and Kogi.
Kanu claimed that freedom fighting was not a crime anywhere, including in Nigeria, but a fundamental right.
The IPOB leader also claimed not to be involved in violence.
Before proceedings began, the court granted a request by the Federal Government for prosecution witnesses to testify behind a screen and with their faces masked.
Awomolo told the court that the measure was necessary to safeguard the identities of the operatives.
“Given the sensitive nature of their roles and the security risks involved, it is imperative that these witnesses be allowed to testify anonymously,” he said.
Lead counsel to the defence, Kanu Agabi (SAN), did not oppose the motion.
Justice Omotosho agreed with the prosecution and granted the application as prayed.
The judge also pruned the number of persons who applied to observe the trial to 20, mostly family members.
Over 30 persons applied to be in court as observers, among them, the convener of “Take it Back Movement”, Omoyele Sowore, who was denied.
Justice Omotosho adjourned till Friday for the cross-examination of the witness.
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