DSS witness links Nnamdi Kanu to attacks on Gulak, security officers
A scrutinize from the Division of Inform Services (DSS) on Wednesday suggested the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja that the activities of the Indigenous Of us of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed hover, the Jap Security Community (ESN), resulted within the deaths of between 170 and 200 safety operatives in Nigeria’s South-East situation.
The scrutinize, the fourth to testify within the ongoing terrorism trial of IPOB chief Nnamdi Kanu, alleged that Kanu gave directives to his followers, including orders to assassinate safety personnel and attack authorities facilities.
Led in proof by prosecuting counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the DSS official stated that an ESN member, Uzuoma Benjamin—ceaselessly identified as “Onye Navy”—claimed they had been suggested by Kanu to assassinate safety operatives and that a deceased ESN commander, Ikonso, was to be buried with “2,000 human heads.” The scrutinize stated investigations printed most productive 30 human heads had been at final sourced.
He also gave an memoir of the assassinate of Ahmed Gulak, a delicate aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. In accordance with the scrutinize, Gulak was killed in Owerri, Imo Inform, on Can also 30, 2021—the identical day a sit-at-home utter was issued by Kanu by contrivance of one in every of his declares.
“We had been suggested by the Divisional Police Officer that Gulak was in a hired vehicle on his formula to the airport when he was stopped at a checkpoint,” the scrutinize testified. “The driving force later suggested us that the gunmen requested all three passengers to establish their tribes.
He stated Gulak couldn’t talk about Igbo, and after they noticed a Muslim prayer designate on his forehead, they concluded he was no longer one in every of them and shot him.”
He stated the DSS recovered Gulak’s body from the scene the expend of his official vehicle.
The scrutinize also suggested the court docket that the DSS recovered a radio transmitter allegedly smuggled into the nation by Kanu and assign in in Ubuluisiuzor, Anambra Inform. He stated that, after making improvements to the gadget in 2015, the DSS invited the Nationwide Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to glimpse it. The NBC later confirmed in a document that the transmitter was manufactured in Germany and designed for FM broadcast. The commission also stated that such a transmitter required right licensing, which had no longer been bought by Kanu or Radio Biafra.
“There was no application from the defendant. He brought the transmitter into the nation illegally,” the scrutinize stated.
He added that Kanu later visited the realm the assign the transmitter was saved—within the premises of one Benjamin Madubugu—and filmed a video to ensure IPOB participants who contributed funds for its snatch.
The scrutinize also described the ESN as an armed neighborhood that conducted assaults on safety installations and neighborhood leaders. He stated some participants had been discovered at one hideout with human heads and had been allegedly sharp human flesh as fragment of formality safety.
“We couldn’t hit upon Onye Navy again after his arrest. The police suggested us he had escaped custody,” the DSS official testified.
Below scandalous-examination by defence counsel Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the scrutinize admitted there was no documentation indicating how or when the transmitter entered Nigeria. He confirmed the instruments was positioned the expend of video analysis and was no longer seized alongside any weapons at the time of restoration. He also stated that Benjamin Madubugu was later charged individually for illegal firearm possession.
He added that whereas he was informed Kanu had broadcast instruments with him when he was first arrested in Lagos in 2016, he didn't personally scrutinize the arrest. The container that housed the transmitter, the scrutinize stated, was brought in by one Igwe Anyiba, whom the DSS later discovered was living in a single other nation.
He stated he was unaware of any official observation by the Imo Inform Govt suggesting that Gulak’s killing was politically motivated.
After polishing off scandalous-examination, Justice James Omotosho discharged the scrutinize and adjourned the matter till Thursday, when the prosecution is anticipated to modern its fifth scrutinize.
