FG Vs Kanu Tussle: Witnesses Testimony Presented, Case Adjourned

FG Vs Kanu Tussle: Witnesses Testimony Presented, Case Adjourned The resumed court proceedings of today, 29th April, 2025 between the incarc...

FG Vs Kanu Tussle: Witnesses Testimony Presented, Case Adjourned

The resumed court proceedings of today, 29th April, 2025 between the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) movement, and the Federal Government at the federal high court Abuja, presided by his lordship, Justice Omotosho ended with the subsequent adjournment of the case to May 2nd, 2025 and admission of witnesses/evidence by the prosecution party to support the terrorism charges levied against the defendant. 

Recall that after the recusal order of the former presiding judge, Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako and the controversies that followed, the Cheif justice of Nigeria reassigned the case to a later judge for precedence, whom in turn appropriated a three days hearing-judgement interval, and advised the federal government to present and call in evidence to support their case against the defendant. 

Thus, the proceedings which commenced on 29th April, 2025 was characterized with a plethora of contestations between the prosecution and defendant parties, as the federal government provided witnesses who testified before the court, while the defendant party strengthened their defense with additional counsel to reinforce their ranks and provide more convincing arguments for their case.

According to prosecution, the trial of the IPOB leader was legal and under the jurisprudence of the Nigerian state, based on the account provided by the first witness of the prosecution — whom incidentally was an operative of the  Nigerian secret service (DSS) and was part of the tactical team deployed to arrest the IPOB leader 11 years ago in a hotel room in Lagos state, Nigeria upon his arrival from the United Kingdom. 

The witness revealed that the IPOB leader was arrested and was in possession of broadcasting gadgets and equipments which were allegedly used by the defendant to incite violence in Nigeria. 

However, the defendant denied the accusations stating that his broadcasts which were made and streamlined from its mother station, Radio Biafra, a media company registered in the United Kingdom were only directed at sensitization and resurge the self-determination quest of the ethnic blocs in the eastern region and exposing the marginalization of its people. And as guaranteed by the constitution and international laws, these are fundamental inalienable rights which are not affiliated either in concept or context to terrorism.

In addition, the defendant also revealed that during his arrest and questioning in 2015, the DSS operatives engaged in gross violations of his fundamental legal rights as he was denied audience with his legal attorney and representatives. 

Nevertheless, the prosecution also presented the evidence which included the said confiscated broadcasting equipments, a number of some personal stuffs of the defendant, as well as a video/audio clip of the interrogation process and the written statement of the IPOB leader after his arrest by the secret police operatives.

However, the defendants counsel had prayed the court to allow for the cross examination of the prosecution’s witness. And ultimately, the cross examination of the witnesses was designated by his lordship for 2nd May 2025 as well as the continuation of the rest proceedings as well as the presentation of more witnesses if any by the prosecuting party. 

The IPOB leader was ultimately remanded and transported back to the DSS headquarters where he had been held custody in solitary confinement for over fours years as his legal tussle with the federal government lingers on. 

Family Writers Press International