Abuja, Nigeria – E don happen again, as di trial of Nnamdi Kanu, di leader of di Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), don enter another level of drama for Federal High Court. Dis Wednesday, Kanu come drop bombshell say one officer from di Department of State Services (DSS) don threaten am to cooperate before e write im statement when dem first arrest am for October 2015. Wetin dey sup? E be like say Kanu no wan gree make dem intimidate am again!
Di matter waka enter court after di goment call dia third witness, Mr. CCC, wey also be DSS officer. E tell di court say e dey part of di team wey interview Kanu for 2015. Kanu no waste time, as e don already inform im lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), say di statement wey dem make am write na under duress.
As di trial dey unfold, Justice Omotosho declare say dem go do ‘trial within trial’ to check wether Kanu really write di statement voluntarily. Omo, e don turn to Biafra soap opera for di court!
Mr. CCC, di DSS witness, come sabi say Kanu no fit dey under duress when e write di statement. “I dey surprise to hear now. Nobody force am,” e talk. Time wey Erokoro dey cross-examine am, e ask plenty questions like wether CCC sabi di officers for DSS headquarters and how dem dey detain people. Di man just dey deny everything! Na wah o!
Kanu sef enter di witness box, spill some tea about di way dem treat am. He talk say di intimidation start from Lagos, when dem chain am and blindfold am, carry am go Abuja like say na jolly ride! Di man don gree say di treatment wey him receive fit make person lose im mind. E talk say di way dem dey keep am for solitary confinement dey bad, and e dey suffer from nose bleedings because of di condition. Trust say dem go listen sharp-sharp! But e also claim say oga Brown, di Assistant Director for di DSS, don give am warning say if e no cooperate, dem go stop im time to breathe fresh air!
Di defense wey dey follow Kanu no too dey chill, as dem bring evidence to show wetin happen during di interrogation sessions. Kanu insist say di DSS don edit plenty things wen dem play for court, showing how dem dey shout for am, telling am wetin to write for im statement. Na real drama we dey witness for here o!
During di case, di prosecution don already call two witnesses, Mr. AAA and Mr. BBB. Dem don elaborate how dem arrest Kanu for hotel near di Lagos Airport in October 2017, carry him with plenty broadcasting materials. Yet, during cross-examination, di witnesses no fit point out any dangerous weapons or instruments of terrorism wey dem find. Na so dem dey paint dis man like Boko Haram member!
Mr. BBB also give testimony about di allegations of terrorism against Kanu. But as usual, Kanu lawyer don bring counter-report wey state say di Lagos panel of inquiry into di End SARS protest no blame Kanu or IPOB for any violence. E be like say di prosecution dey try use vibes without verified facts. Kanu lawyers also mention di retired Army General T.Y. Danjuma, wey don talk say citizens need to defend dia selves against terrorists.
At dis point, di tension for di court don dey palpable as Kanu supporters dey watch with bated breath. E be like say na dry season of di government, and dem dey try to push Kanu for corner. But Kanu dey hold his ground like rock! Di trial continues tomorrow, Thursday, May 29, 2025, wey dem go start ruling on dis trial within trial and also roll on with more hearing.
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