By Jane Okafor, Abeokuta
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday, gave insight into the strategy it adopted to arrest self acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu when he stealthily entered Nigeria in 2015.
The DSS through the first prosecution witness in Kanu’s trial for terrorism, also revealed details of how the arrest took place even when the IPOB leader allegedly attempted to hide his identity.
The witness, whose identity was shielded for security reason, testified behind a screen provided by the court, was led in evidence by the prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).
Identified with a combination of letters – PWAAA – the witness, an operative of the DSS, said his agency, acting on intelligence, deployed an eight-man operatives to a hotel in Ikeja, Lagos on October 15, 2015 where Kanu was arrested during a room to room search.
The witness said that the operatives, deployed for the assessment, opted for a room-to-room search option because Kanu’s name was not reflected on the hotel’s manifest.
The witness said the option adopted made it possible for Kanu to be arrested.
Following his arrest, the witness said, the operatives discovered he used his native name to secure his residence in the hotel.
The witness said many items , including IPOB pamphlets, IPOB complementary cards, laptops, IPADS, microphones, microphone stand, flash drives, power adaptor for mixers, various brands of phones, perfumes, ATM cards, wrist watch, among others were recovered in Kanu’s hotel room and documented via video recording.
The items were brought to court on Monday by the prosecution in four suites.
They were displayed in the open court and subsequently admitted as exhibits by the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho.
The witness told the court that the interrogation of Kanu was video recorded.
The witness, a male, told the court that Kanu admitted to be the founder and leader of IPOB.
He added that the defendant admitted establishing, operating Radio Biafra and that he did not register the radio station with NBC in Nigeria.
The video recording of Kanu’s interrogation was played in court while the statement he made to interrogators on October 15, 2015 has also been read in court.
In the video, Kanu admitted establishment of Radio Biafra in London, registered in London.
Kanu also admitted not registering the radio station with NBC because there was no need for it.
In the statement, he admitted fighting for emancipation of the people of South East, South South and parts of Benue and Kogi.
He claimed that freedom fighting, which he said he was involved in, is not a crime in any part of the world, including Nigeria because it is a fundamental right.
Kanu equally claimed not to be involved in any violence because he has not been linked with any one.
At the conclusion of the witness’s testimony, Justice Omotosho adjourned till May 2 for the defence team, led by Kanu Agabi (SAN), to cross examine the witness.
-The Nation
