Freedom Fighting, My Fundamental Right Not Crime, Kanu Insist

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted permission to the Federal Government for its witnesses to testify behind camera in the terrorism charges brought against the Biafra nation agitator, Nnamdi Kanu.

The judge granted permission while delivering ruling in an exparte application filed by the Federal Government lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo.

Due to no objections from Kanu’s lawyer Kanu Agabi, Justice Omotosho granted the request for similar cooperation from the federal government when the bail application for Kanu would be argued.

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has insisted that his fight for the emancipation of the South East, South South and parts of Benue and Kogi States is his fundamental right and not terrorism as alleged by the federal government.

Kanu, in his statement made to the operatives of the Department of the State Service DSS in Lagos on October 15, 2015, made it clear that freedom fighting is not a crime in any part of the world, including Nigeria because it is a fundamental right.

In the statement read out in the open court on Tuesday and admitted as exhibit, the detained Biafra nation agitator said he was interrogated by the DSS without the presence of his lawyer as required by law.

He claimed not to be involved in any violence in any part of the country because he has not been linked to anyone.

The statement was brought to the court by the DSS, while the federal government lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, applied that it should be read in the open court.

Consequently, and due to no objection from Kanu’s legal team, the statement was read by a DSS operative who is testifying as the federal government Prosecution Witness.

Apart from the statement, the video recordings of the interrogations of Kanu were played in the open court due to no objection from Kanu’s legal team
and the video clips admitted as exhibits by the trial Judge, Justice James Omotosho.

Apart from the statement and the video clips, four suit cases that contained various items recovered in the hotel room where Kanu was arrested on October 15, 2015 were also brought to court and admitted as exhibits.

The four suit cases contained personal belongings of the defendant, especially the Biafra radio equipment and video clips, to which Kanu admitted establishing a Radio Biafra in London where it was registered.

He admitted not registering the radio station with the National Broadcasting Commission NBC because there was no need for it.

The matter was adjourned to May 2 for ruling.

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Blessing Nyor