A Federal High Court in Abuja heard on Tuesday how the self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, admitted operating an illegal radio station and calling members of the public to attack police officers.
An official of the Department of State Services (DSS) disclosed this while testifying as the second prosecution witness (PW2) in Kanu’s ongoing terrorism trial before Justice James Kolawole Omotosho.
The witness, identified with the acronym – BBB – gave evidence behind a screen provided by the court. He testified that Kanu confirmed his activities while making his statement.
Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) BBB said beside being the leader of the proscribed IPOB, Kanu is the founder of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of IPOB.
The witness said Kanu also operated an illegal radio station, which broadcast on frequencies 102.1 FM and 88.0 FM. He said the radio was illegal because it was not licensed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
BBB said he was on July 2021, assigned the duty of taking Kanu’s statement following a letter from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) requesting that the IPOB leader be investigated for his alleged terrorism activities.
The witness said he carried out the assignment in the company of four other colleagues. He said he handed Kanu the letter from the AGF, which the defendant read and also gave his lawyers to read, following which he requested that Kanu respond to the issues raised in the letter.
He said after reading the letter, Kanu volunteered to make a statement in the presence of two of his lawyers, including Alloy Ejimakor.
The witness said he played some of the broadcast made by the defendant on his radio station (Radio Biafra), including where he called for the attack police officers and other inciting comments.
Witness BBB said Kanu admitted that the voice in the broadcast, which he played to his hearing, were his (Kanu’s) own.
On what Kanu was agitating about, the witness said Kanu wanted the secession of the five South East states, parts of Kogi and Benue states from the rest of Nigeria.
The witness said the defendant’s statement taking session was recorded on video etc.
Case continues tomorrow more DSS witnesses coming.
Meanwhile kanu sister has been banned from sitting in court because she was recording court proceedings.
