The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered a trial-within-trial in the ongoing terrorism and treasonable felony case against Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The decision was made by Justice James Omotosho on Wednesday, to determine whether Kanu’s alleged confessional statements were made voluntarily or under pressure.
This legal step follows an objection by Kanu’s legal team after the prosecution attempted to submit his written statements and a video recording from 2015 as evidence. Kanu’s lawyers argued that the materials were obtained under duress, without access to legal counsel.
The DSS had recorded the interview on October 21, 2015, while the written statements dated back to October and November of that year. A witness, identified only as “CCC”, testified behind a screen, stating that Kanu was aware the interview was being recorded and that he was interrogated by a team of four operatives.
However, Kanu disputed the identity of the witness, claiming he was not the interrogating officer and that the person who questioned him was an operative named “Brown”. Kanu alleged that he was held in solitary confinement, physically assaulted, and denied legal representation during his DSS interrogations. “I wrote some things under pressure,” he told the court.
The prosecution denied all claims of coercion or abuse, asserting that Kanu’s statements were made of his own volition.
In response to the conflicting claims, Justice Omotosho initiated a trial-within-trial. During the proceedings, the same DSS witness reiterated that Kanu was not mistreated and that the statements—including controversial remarks about former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as Senator Rochas Okorocha—were made willingly. Kanu had allegedly referred to Nigeria as a “Zoo” and claimed IPOB received international funding, with representatives in over 80 countries. He also admitted to founding and directing Radio Biafra.
The video recordings and statements were submitted as exhibits, while Kanu was also allowed to testify. He told the court that he was struck in the face by a DSS officer during his arrest in Lagos in 2015, which caused him to bleed from the nose. According to Kanu, the operative later apologized en route to Abuja.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the proceedings until Thursday for continued hearing and to rule on the admissibility of the disputed exhibits.
