The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday admitted as exhibits series of video clips showing Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, announcing the creation of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and ordering lockdown in the South-East.
In the videos played in open court, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was seen issuing statements considered inflammatory by the Federal Government, upon which the terrorism charges were filed against him.
One of the videos was tagged ‘Broadcast by Nnamdi Kanu’, and Kanu was visibly seen addressing his followers on what he called “The Blessed Land of Biafra.”
He announced the formation of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), urging followers to defend their land against what he referred to as “Fulani domination”.
Kanu warned political leaders in the region against compromise and issued a directive forbidding the presence of Fulani herdsmen, stating: “No Fulani parading as herdsmen shall be allowed in our land.
“If you are an agent of the Fulani, turn away this evening.”
The Federal Government, through its witness code-named PWBBB, claimed that the broadcast incited acts of terrorism across the South-East.
The witness was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN. During his evidence, he tendered a flash drive containing recordings of Kanu’s activities before he was apprehended for inciting violence and terrorism.
The device was admitted as evidence alongside a certificate of compliance, despite vehement objections from Kanu’s lawyers.
They were marked as Exhibits PWA and PW1, respectively.
Earlier in the session, the court admitted a letter dated June 17, 2021, authored by the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), which accused Kanu of terrorism, murder and incitement to violence.
The letter, addressed to the DSS, was tendered without objection and marked as Exhibit PWF.
Reading from the document, the witness alleged that Kanu’s broadcasts were followed by coordinated attacks on police stations and correctional facilities, resulting in the loss of lives and property.
He quoted the letter as saying Kanu had instructed that security operatives be “brought down” and their weapons seized.
Also admitted was a statement dated July 17, 2021, purportedly made by Kanu during his detention, where he declined to make further written statements, asserting he had already addressed the allegations.
In another played video clip, recorded on December 12, 2020, Kanu was seen making a broadcast declaring: “In the blessed land of Biafra, we must do everything to save ourselves from extinction.”
He described Nigeria as a “zoo” and called for resistance against what he termed Fulani domination, accusing political leaders of betraying the people.
In another video, Kanu introduced the Eastern Security Network (ESN), comparing it to regional security outfits like South West Amotekun and said it was necessary to defend the South-East from Fulani herders.
The court also viewed footage from the #EndSARS protests, where Kanu was seen directing attacks on police and government facilities.
A separate video dated May 30, 2021, showed Kanu declaring a total lockdown in the South-East in memory of fallen Biafrans, instructing residents not to leave their homes.
Another clip showed Kanu asking his followers to procure guns and bullets for self-defence, specifically referencing threats from Boko Haram and labelling Fulani herders as terrorists.
The witness confirmed the voice in the videos as Kanu’s.
Additionally, the Federal Government’s gazette officially proscribing IPOB as a terrorist organization, dated September 20, 2017 was admitted as an exhibit without objection from the defence.
The Federal Government lawyer thereafter requested an adjournment to continue playing the remaining footage, noting it exceeded an hour.
The defence raised no objections, prompting Justice James Kolawole Omotosho to adjourn the matter to May 8 for continuation of trial.
Recall that on Tuesday, the court ordered the federal government to always serve Kanu with documents and materials intended to be tendered as exhibits before being tendered in court.
Justice James Omotosho said such documents and materials must be front-loaded and be made available to the defendant as required by law so as not to catch him unaware in the defence of terrorism filed against him.
The judge issued the order on Tuesday during the resumption of the trial of Kanu on terrorism charges.
Issues arose when the second prosecution witness (PW2), code-named as PWBBB, testified that he was assigned by the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate Kanu.
He described Kanu as the operator of Radio Biafra and the founder of the Eastern Security Network.
However, attempts by the federal government through its lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo SAN to tender a letter authorising the witness’ investigation was opposed by Kanu’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi SAN on the ground that the document was not frontloaded as required by law.
The prosecution later withdrew the document, and the court granted the withdrawal.
The trial also saw disagreements over the admissibility of a video evidence presented by the defence which Kanu himself opposed.
The court ordered that all materials intended for trial must be served in advance and listed properly, stressing that no document would be admitted unless previously disclosed to the defence.
Earlier at the continued cross-examination of the first prosecution witness (PW1) code named as PWAAA, he admitted not being aware that several terrorism charges against Kanu had been struck out by the same court.
The witness who is an operative of the Department of the State Service (DSS) also admitted not having knowledge of the current status of many of the original 15-count charges.
Re-examined by lead prosecutor, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, the witness stated that Kanu’s activities amounted to agitation for the secession of parts of Nigeria.
