FG Tenders Video Evidence of Radio Biafra

•Kanu says 2015 statement was under duress

Alex Enumah and Linus Aleke in Abuja

The federal government, yesterday, tendered three video clips including one where the detained pro-Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, was seen inspecting a radio transmitter allegedly smuggled into the country.

The Radio Biafra transmitter known as “Tram 50L” was allegedly kept at Ubuluisiuzor in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where the defendant was said to have carried out the inspection.

But Nnamdi Kanu has informed trial judge, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that the statement he volunteered to the Department of State Service (DSS), in October and November 2015, were made under duress.

But Kanu’s claim was dismissed by the third prosecution witness, Mr CCC, during the trial-within-trial, that DSS used threats of solitary confinement to extract statements from him.

Kanu had claimed that one Mr Brown, a DSS operative, made the threat about solitary confinement in the ‘dungeon’ but the witness clarified that the names of the officers who took part in the interview were James, Ibrahim and Collins, with no Mr Brown among them.

The witness claimed that contrary to Kanu’s position, the defendant was given presidential treatment and expressed shock at the allegations of using any form of force to get him to make certain statements, including calling Presidents Jonathan and Buhari unprintable names, and also alleging that Senator Rochas Okorocha ‘Islamised’ his people.

The Biafra nation agitator was said to have made the alleged statements when he granted an interview with a US-based online medium known as Sahara Reporters.

The witness added that Kanu had in the same interview used the term ‘Zoo’ to refer to Nigeria.

The DSS had claimed that Kanu made three written statements at its Headquarters on October 23rd, 24th and November 4th, 2015.

These statements along with video recording of his oral statements of October 21 and 23, 2015 were also tendered.

Responding, Justice Omotosho ordered for a trial-within-trial to clear the air on the admissibility or otherwise of the statements the defendant claims were gotten under duress.

•The judge, in a ruling, said, “It is law that whenever an issue of involuntariness is raised, the Evidence Act and the law” requires that an order for trial-within-trial be made to determine whether a statement was taken under duress or otherwise. He added that establishing duress will therefore make the statement in contention inadmissible.

•Omotosho further informed parties in the case that at the end of the trial-within-trial, the court will also rule on how the absence of the defendant’s lawyers affected the case of the defendant.

•In the three footage played in court by the prosecution to prove that Nnamdi Kanu made his statements voluntarily, the Biafra nation agitator admitted to being the founder and director of Radio Biafra.

•In one of the footages, Kanu claimed that the Biafra cause enjoyed funding across the globe from all those who believe in the ideals of the secessionist agenda. He claims the group has representatives in over 80 countries.

•At some point during trial-within-trial, Kanu took the witness stand to give evidence in his case.

•The defendant claimed, in his testimony, that he was struck by a DSS operative when he was picked up in Lagos in 2015. But the same operative later apologised on their way to the airport en-route to Abuja.

•Meanwhile, Omotosho has adjourned the matter till today May 29 for hearing continuation and to deliver ruling on the admissibility of the statements.