Kanu’s Radio Broadcast Incited Violence, Paralysed South-East Economy — DSS

The Department of State Services (DSS) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the broadcasts made by the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, were instrumental in inciting violence and causing severe economic disruption across the South-East region of Nigeria.

Testifying before Justice James Omotosho on Friday, a DSS operative identified only by the code name Mr DDD, for security reasons, said Kanu’s broadcasts encouraged the enforcement of IPOB’s controversial sit-at-home orders through its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the operative said his investigations revealed that Kanu’s messages on radio directly led to the region’s economic paralysis.

“From my investigation, the defendant’s broadcasts directly contributed to economic paralysis in the South-East, as they fuelled the enforcement of IPOB’s sit-at-home order,” Mr DDD testified.

The witness also alleged that Kanu smuggled a radio transmitter into Nigeria, concealing it in household items to avoid detection. The equipment, which was not declared to the Nigerian Customs Service, was hidden in the home of one Benjamin Madubougu in Ihiala, Anambra State. According to Mr DDD, the transmitter was used by Kanu to incite violence and spread secessionist propaganda against the Federal Government.

“We obtained a search warrant, searched Benjamin’s residence, and recovered the transmitter along with other items, including firearms, cartridges, Biafran currency, and Indian hemp,” the witness said.

The court admitted into evidence a Certified True Copy of the search warrant issued by the Ihiala Chief Magistrate Court on October 28, 2015. A video showing Kanu inspecting the smuggled transmitter was also tendered by the prosecution and admitted by the court despite opposition from the defence team, led by Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN). In the video, which was played in open court, Kanu was seen describing the transmitter as a “game changer” and a “nuclear weapon” for Biafra. He also issued threats of violence against South-East residents who might defy the May 31, 2021, sit-at-home order.

The prosecution further submitted a flash drive containing 18 video clips and 16 radio broadcasts allegedly attributed to Kanu, which were also admitted as evidence. In addition, the statement of Benjamin Madubougu was tendered, in which he admitted that Kanu had not provided any customs documentation for the transmitter.

The court admitted a newspaper publication from Vanguard in which an alleged ESN member claimed that Kanu ordered the collection of 2,000 human heads for a burial rite related to Biafra. The article noted that only 30 human heads were reportedly collected. Although the defence team objected to the admissibility of the newspaper report, the court admitted it alongside a certificate of compliance.

Prosecution counsel Awomolo also applied for the court to visit the DSS facility within the Presidential Villa in Abuja to inspect the transmitter and other seized items. The court granted the request without opposition. Justice Omotosho stated that the court had a duty to thoroughly examine all pieces of evidence in the interest of justice. He subsequently adjourned proceedings and ruled that the court would visit the DSS facility for an on-site inspection of the items in question.