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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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“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.”
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‘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.
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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.
