•IPOB leader dissociates self from members’ atrocities in video evidence
BBB, the second prosecution witness in the terrorism trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday narrated to the Federal High Court in Abuja how Radio Biafra broadcasts by Kanu led to the killing of eminent Nigerians, including security officers.
The 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2), whose identity was shielded for security reasons, while being led in evidence by the Federal Government’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, said Kanu’s broadcasts led to the killing of a former Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak.
BBB said he was part of the DSS team that investigated the complaint made against Kanu by the then Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami.
He said the defendant’s broadcasts also led to the killing of a retired judge, Justice Stanley Nnaji and an intending military couple, Sergeant Audu Lucas and Private Glory Matthew.
The witness said Kanu, in one of his broadcasts, ordered his followers to enforce a sit-at-home in all South Eastern states and in the process, many people who went out of their houses on that day were killed.
He said investigation revealed that Sergeant Lucas and Private Matthew were not only killed by those who were enforcing Kanu’s sit-at-home order, but they were also beheaded.
The witness said the investigation also revealed that before killing Gulak, those enforcing the sit-at-home directive by Kanu, blamed him (Gulak) for coming out on a day their leader asked people not to go out of their homes.
He added that, from their investigation, they found that Kanu founded IPOB and ESN, which is the armed wing of IPOB, and that he was the leader of both groups.
“We were also able to establish that he (Kanu) founded Radio Biafra through which he made inciting comments like the killing of police officers and burning of property,” the witness said.
He added that they also found that Radio Biafra was not registered in Nigeria and that, owing to Kanu’s broadcast, police stations in Cele and Ilasa (both in Lagos) were burnt by his followers.
The witness said investigation also revealed that about 100 luxury buses, belonging to the Lagos Government and part of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, were burnt as allegedly directed by Kanu in one of his broadcasts.
The witness added: “He (Kanu) not only called for the killing of security officers, he called for them to be beheaded, which they (his followers) did.”
He said their investigation revealed that Kanu’s agitation for Biafra was to secede the states of South East and part of Benue and Kogi from Nigeria.
According to him, the defendant called for the establishment of the state of Biafra by any means possible, including war.
However, Kanu said on Thursday in a video played in court that the destruction witnessed during the 2020 #ENDSARS protest could not have been a result of his broadcasts on Biafra Radio.
Kanu made the contention during his interrogation by the Department of State Service (DSS) on July 17, 2021, and the video evidence was played before the court presided over by Justice James Omotosho.
The video recording of the session where the DSS investigators, including the witness, identified as BBB, interrogated Kanu and obtained a written statement from him, was played in court.
BBB identified Kanu in the video as well as two of his lawyers who were with him during the session, including Alloy Ejimakor.
Kanu, however, admitted making broadcasts in respect of the #ENDSARS protest and other broadcasts on Biafra Radio.
He said the protest that took place in Lagos during the protest was outside the Biafran territory and that the mayhem witnessed during the period could not have been a result of his broadcast.
Kanu confirmed being the founder and leader of IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Kanu said he was not directly involved in the day-to-day running of both organisations (IPOB and ESN), which, he said, were managed by their states’ coordinators.
During the interactive session, Kanu sought and was granted permission to ease himself.
He went into the restroom, returned a moment later, and the interview session continued.
Kanu said he did not have authority over his members, adding that if he had had authority over them, he would not have subscribed to the referendum.
He said he would have just pronounced Biafra into existence.
In the video, Kanu denied that IPOB was responsible for the violent attacks in some parts of the South East and the killings witnessed.
He said that IPOB was a peaceful and non-violent movement.
Kanu, who said he facilitated the establishment of ESN, explained that the organisation was necessitated by the killings of the people of the South East.
“If you look at what was happening in our land, that was what gave rise to ESN.
“If our people cannot go to the farm, and people are killed in their land, do you sit down and do nothing?
“People can no longer go to the farm; people can no longer carry out their economic activities,” he said.
Kanu faulted the invasion of his house by armed soldiers, which, he said, was why he left the country for fear of being killed.
He argued that the invasion was unnecessary and also faulted the manner he was arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria.
After Awomolo concluded evidence-in-chief, the lawyer to the defendant, Paul Erokoro, SAN, sought an adjournment for the defence to cross-examine the witness.
The judge adjourned the matter until May 14, May 21 and May 22 for further hearing. (NAN)
