Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples
of Biafra (IPOB), has denied that the destruction that trailed the #EndSARS
protest in October 2020 was triggered by his radio broadcast.
Kanu is currently facing trial on seven counts of terrorism
and treasonable felony, charges to which he has pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution — Department of State Services (DSS) — has
been presenting witnesses for the trial.
During the court proceedings on Wednesday, a DSS official,
identified by the codename “BBB”, made an appearance to continue his testimony.
The witness had told the court that he was part of the DSS
team assigned to take Kanu’s statement on July 17, 2021, following a letter
written by the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).
Exhibits, including a flash drive containing audio and video
clips of Kanu’s alleged inciteful statement and a written statement, were
tendered by the DSS operative.
At the resumption of the hearing on Thursday, the video of
the interrogation session of the IPOB leader was played in the court.
The witness identified Kanu in the video as well as two of
his lawyers who were with him during the session, including Aloy Ejimakor.
In the video, Kanu admitted that he made some pronouncements
in respect of the #EndSARS protest and other issues via Radio Biafra.
But the IPOB leader said violence witnessed during the
#EndSARS protest in Lagos was outside the south-east geopolitical zone.
He added that his radio broadcast could not have resulted in
the violence in Lagos.
Kanu said he was not directly involved in the day-to-day
running of both organisations — IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN).
He added that the organisations were managed by states’
coordinators.
The IPOB leader said he did not have authority over the
members of the organisations.
Kanu said he would not have subscribed to a referendum for
secession if he had authority over the members.
The IPOB leader denied that the group is responsible for the
violent attacks and killings in the south-east zone.
He said ESN was established to stop the killings of people
in the south-east zone.
“If you look at what was happening in our land, that was
what gave rise to ESN,” he said.
“If our people cannot go to farm, and people are killed in
their land, do you sit down and do nothing? People can no longer go to farm;
people can no longer carry out their economic activities.”
‘KANU’S RADIO BROADCAST LED TO KILLINGS OF PROMINENT
NIGERIANS’
Led in evidence by Adegboyega Awomolo, counsel to the DSS,
the witness said the radio broadcast of the IPOB leader led to the killings of
eminent Nigerians, including security officers.
The DSS operative said Kanu’s broadcast led to the killing
of Stanley Nnaji, a retired judge, and Audu Lucas and Glory Matthew, an
intending military couple, in the south-east zone of the country.
The witness said in one of Kanu’s broadcasts, he ordered his
followers to enforce a sit-at-home order in the south-east and kill those who
disobeyed the directive.
The DSS official said the broadcast also led to the killing
of Ahmed Gulak, a former presidential aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
The witness said investigation revealed that before Gulak
was killed, those enforcing the sit-at-home directive blamed him for coming out
the day their leader instructed everyone to stay indoors.
“We were also able to establish that he (Kanu) founded Radio
Biafra, through which he made inciting comments like killing of police officers
and burning of property,” NAN quoted the witness as saying.
“He (Kanu) did not only call for the killing of security
officers; he called for them to be beheaded, which they (his followers) did.”
After the witness completed his testimony, Paul Erokoro, the
defendant’s lawyer, sought an adjournment for the cross-examination of the DSS
operative.
The judge adjourned the matter to May 14, May 21 and May 22
for further hearing.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com