Deborah Akinyosoye
The trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, continued at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with Justice James Omotosho presiding.
The prosecution presented more evidence to support claims that Kanu was involved in terrorism.
A witness known as named BBB, led by the prosecuting lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo, resumed testimony.
He spoke about a letter written by the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to the Department of State Services which accused Kanu of terrorism, murder and inciting violence against Nigerian security agencies.
It was dated June 17, 2021, and was admitted as Exhibit PWF after the defence, led by Kanu Agabi, raised no objection.
The witness read from the letter, “He instructed, through his broadcast, that police and army seen, should be brought down and their guns seized and used.”
The letter also listed violent acts, saying Kanu’s words caused attacks on police stations, correctional centres, and public property.
The court also accepted a written statement by Kanu to the DSS on July 17, 2021, where he declined to write anything new, saying he had already said all he needed to. This was marked as Exhibit PEG.
A flash drive that reportedly contains Kanu’s broadcasts was also admitted, despite an objection by the defence. It was marked as Exhibits PWA and PW1.
The court played several video and audio recordings. In one clip, dated December 12, Kanu is heard speaking from “the blessed land of Biafra” and warning against “Fulani domination.”
He also warned Southeast governors, saying, “No Fulani parading as herdsman shall be allowed in our land.”
In another video, a voice the DSS said is Kanu’s is heard saying, “Go and burn down Lagos,” “Set Murtala Mohammed Airport on fire,” “Burn down that Tinubu hotel,” “Go into the bush, collect policemen’s guns and kill them.”
In a different clip, the voice said, “Every Federal government building in Lagos should be set on fire. Any government vehicle you see, burn them. Manufacture your own weapons, ambush them.”
Another audio recording played in court had the same voice telling people, “Any police officer you kill, go to their station and set it on fire. Kill them. They are janjaweeds.”
The voice also said, “Tinubu is in trouble, he cannot run. Anywhere he runs to in this world, we will find him.” “If we don’t behave like mad people in this zoological republic, this revolution will not work.”
“Start killing soldiers now, set ambush for them, dig holes on the roads so that when their vehicle comes it will somersault and they will die.”
The court was told this audio came from the October 2020 End SARS protest with people calling in from different parts of Nigeria to update Kanu.
One caller from Ogbor Hill in Aba said they needed guns.
The voice replied, “Join the elite Biafra volunteer force and you will understand how things work.”
Another recording had the same voice declaring a total sit-at-home in the Southeast, “Nobody is allowed to come out no matter who you are. If you dare open your shop tomorrow, we’ll burn you inside that shop!”
In another clip, the voice tells someone on the phone, “There are some guns already in Edo State. Take those guns and kill some army officers. Take their guns and use them to attack others.”
The prosecution witness said these recordings were played to Kanu and that “he admitted that he made them.”
The last video showed Kanu speaking at a gathering where he said weapons were needed for the Biafran cause. He said, “The Fulani ethnic group wants to take over the entire country as they took over Hausa territories. The only way to stop this is by a revolution.”
