The Department of State Services told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday that the broadcasts by the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, directly contributed to economic paralysis in the South-East region.
The fourth prosecution witness, a DSS operative codenamed Mr DDD for security reasons, testified before Justice James Omotosho, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).
Mr DDD, in his testimony, said Kanu’s broadcasts incited the enforcement of IPOB’s sit-at-home order through its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network.
“From my investigation, the defendant’s broadcasts directly contributed to economic paralysis in the South-East, as they fuelled the enforcement of IPOB’s sit-at-home order,” Mr DDD testified.
The witness also detailed how Kanu allegedly smuggled a radio transmitter into Nigeria, concealed within household items, to evade detection. According to him, the transmitter, which was not declared to the Nigerian Customs Service, was hidden at the residence of one Benjamin Madubougu in Ihiala, Anambra State.
Mr DDD told the court that Kanu used the transmitter to incite violence and spread secessionist messages.
He said, “The defendant used the radio to incite members of the public against the Federal Government. We obtained a search warrant, searched Benjamin’s residence, and recovered the transmitter along with other items, including firearms, cartridges, Biafran currency, and Indian hemp.”
The court admitted into evidence a certified True copy of the search warrant issued by the Ihiala Chief Magistrate Court on October 28, 2015.
A video recording showing Kanu inspecting the smuggled transmitter was also tendered and admitted despite initial objections by the defence team, led by Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).
In the video, played in the open court, Kanu was seen praising the transmitter as a “game changer” and referring to it as a “nuclear weapon” for Biafra.
He further warned residents of the South-East not to defy IPOB’s sit-at-home order scheduled for May 31, 2021, threatening violence against violators.
The prosecution tendered a flash drive containing 18 video clips and 16 radio broadcasts attributed to Kanu, which the court admitted into evidence.
Additionally, the statement of Benjamin Madubougu was presented, in which he admitted that Kanu had not provided any customs documentation for the imported transmitter.
The court also admitted a publication from Vanguard newspaper in which an alleged ESN member claimed that Kanu ordered the collection of 2,000 human heads for burial rites, although only 30 were reportedly obtained.
The defence team objected to the admissibility of the newspaper article, but the court admitted it alongside a certificate of compliance.
The prosecution further applied for the court to inspect the container housing the transmitter and other related items, currently held at the DSS facility in the Presidential Villa. The request was granted without opposition.
Justice Omotoso ruled that the court would visit the DSS premises to inspect the container and adjourned further proceedings. He emphasised that the court is duty-bound to examine all evidence thoroughly in the pursuit of justice.
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