The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resumed today at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Kanu took the stand as the first defense witness in a “trial within a trial,” asserting that statements he made during his detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) were obtained under duress.
During his testimony, Kanu alleged that his 2015 detention lacked a court order and that he was interrogated without legal representation in an environment he described as coercive. The court has directed both prosecution and defense to submit their written addresses by 9:00 AM tomorrow, with a ruling expected on May 29.
Earlier in the proceedings, the prosecution introduced its third witness—an official from the Department of State Services (DSS)—who testified that Nnamdi Kanu voluntarily gave statements without any form of coercion. However, the defense countered this by presenting video clips and documents to support Kanu’s claim that he was denied access to his lawyers and family during the interrogations.
Kanu, speaking firmly from the witness box, stated
“I was blindfolded, isolated, and threatened. I was forced to speak without my lawyer present. What I said under those conditions cannot be considered voluntary.”
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