|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A Department of State Services (DSS) operative, testifying as the fifth prosecution witness in the ongoing terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the IPOB leader’s inciting statements were responsible for the killing of 233 security personnel during the #EndSARS protests.
The witness made the claim while giving testimony led by the Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, prosecution counsel before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Read also: How Nnamdi Kanu hid radio transmitter in household items — DSS
He further informed the court that Kanu’s inflammatory statements led to the destruction of no fewer than 164 police stations and nine offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across various states.
The witness added that his knowledge of Kanu was solely through media reports and that he had never met him in person.
While presenting the breakdown through a report submitted Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, and accepted by the court as an exhibit, the DSS official stated that 186 police officers, 37 military personnel, and 10 DSS operatives lost their lives during the unrest that took place in the South East and other regions of the country.
The official explained that he was tasked with leading a joint team made up of officers from the Nigeria Police Force and DSS—along with photographers and investigators—to document incidents of criminal activity that occurred during the #EndSARS movement between 2020 and 2021.
“Our assignment involved collecting records from heads of security agencies in the states we visited, updating death certificates for fallen officers, and compiling reports on property damage linked to the EndSARS protests,” he told the court.
He added that the documentation included photographs of destroyed public property, death certificates of the deceased officers, and their corresponding images.
Following this, Awomolo requested the court’s permission to show the witness the compiled reports, which covered damage assessments, death reports, and death certificates of security personnel, along with a certificate of compliance. After the fifth prosecution witness (PW-5) identified the documents, the prosecution sought to tender them as evidence.
During the review of Exhibit PWD2A—which contained death reports and certificates—the witness reaffirmed that 186 police officers, 37 military personnel, and 10 DSS operatives were killed during the #EndSARS protests.
He also provided a breakdown of the casualties and destruction on a state-by-state basis.
According to him, Abia State recorded eight police deaths, Enugu and Imo each had 16, while Delta had eight, among others.
For military fatalities, the witness said Anambra recorded 12, Ebonyi seven, Imo three, and Akwa Ibom one. DSS officers were also reportedly killed in Abia, Anambra, and other states.
Regarding property destruction, the witness told the court that 164 police stations were attacked across the country. Imo accounted for 20 of these, Lagos 38, Cross River five, Ondo 11, Osun one, Ekiti three, and one in the Federal Capital Territory, among others.
On damage to electoral infrastructure, the witness said nine Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices were destroyed. Cross River had four, Anambra one, and Akwa Ibom two, among others.
Read also: FG closes case against Nnamdi Kanu in terrorism trial
During cross-examination, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, defense counsel, asked whether the witness participated in the investigation that led to the charges against Kanu. The witness replied that he had not.
“I was not involved in the actual investigation of the allegations. My assignment was limited to compiling records of destroyed public properties and security personnel killed during the #EndSARS protest, which were said to be connected to statements made by the defendant,” he said.
He maintained that Kanu’s statements incited protesters to attack security personnel and allegedly included instructions on how to create weapons used in the unrest.
When asked whether Kanu had directed the protest or destruction in Osun or the attack on a Lagos court, the witness responded: “I don’t have knowledge of that. I was only instructed to collect relevant records.”
“Was it the defendant who ordered the destruction of the Lagos court?” Ikpeazu asked.
“The defendant is documented as having issued directives. My responsibility was strictly to gather records related to the #EndSARS protest,” he replied.
Ikpeazu pressed further, noting that the witness’s testimony appeared to go beyond simply collecting records.
Asked whether the protest was linked to the Biafran movement, the witness responded: “The facts speak for themselves. Before, during, and after the #EndSARS protests, the defendant made several statements calling on protesters to rise against the Nigerian state.”
He clarified that his mandate was not to investigate Biafra or IPOB, but specifically to document incidents tied to #EndSARS and Kanu’s alleged role in them.
When asked if he knew Aisha Yesufu, a prominent #EndSARS activist, the witness said he did.
“Is she a member of IPOB?” Ikpeazu asked.
“I don’t know,” the witness replied.
“Is she Igbo?” the lawyer continued.
“I don’t think so,” the witness responded.
Further asked if Yesufu was from Abia, the PW-5 said: “As I mentioned earlier, I haven’t investigated her and don’t know her background.”
When questioned about the origin of the #EndSARS protest, the DSS official acknowledged that, in every protest, there are core (organic) causes and surrounding (secondary) issues.
Read also: DSS deny arresting Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya
Asked if he knew what SARS stood for, he confirmed: “Special Anti-Robbery Squad.”
When Ikpeazu reiterated that the protests stemmed from public outcry against SARS brutality, the witness responded that “subversive elements” exploited the situation to mobilize Nigerians against the government.
Although he admitted being aware of allegations of extrajudicial killings by SARS officers in places like Lagos, Ibadan, and Ifelodun in Oyo State, he said he lacked specific details.
He claimed those allegations were used as cover by disruptive actors.
The witness also confirmed that Kanu is from the South East and is the leader of the proscribed IPOB group.
Following the conclusion of the cross-examination, Chief Awomolo informed the court that the prosecution was closing its case.
“Having reviewed the extensive evidence presented, including numerous exhibits and broadcasts involving the IPOB leader, we are convinced that the government has made a strong case,” he said.
“With that, the prosecution formally rests its case.”
In response, lead defense counsel Chief Kanu Agabi informed the court that the defense would be filing a no-case submission.
The judge granted the defence 14 days to file and serve their no-case submission on the prosecution. He also allotted 14 days to the prosecution to file their response, with an additional two days given to the defence to reply on points of law.
He expressed appreciation to both parties for their cooperation in facilitating a swift conclusion of the trial and subsequently adjourned the case to July 18 for the adoption of final submissions.
