FG Closes Case Against Nnamdi Kanu After DSS Witness Links Broadcasts to EndSARS Unrest
Prosecution ends with five witnesses; defence to file no-case submission as court adjourns to July 18 for written addresses.
The federal government on Thursday closed its case in the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), after calling five witnesses, including a Department of State Services (DSS) officer who linked Kanu’s broadcasts to the 2020 EndSARS protests.
At the Federal High Court in Abuja, lead prosecution counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) informed the court that the state was satisfied with the evidence and exhibits presented, including intelligence documents, reports, and testimonies. The final witness, identified as EEE, a DSS officer, concluded his testimony during the session.
In response, Kanu Agabi (SAN), lead counsel to the defendant, said the defence would enter a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Kanu. Justice James Omotosho granted the defence 14 days to file the motion, with an additional 14 days given to the prosecution for its reply. The case was adjourned to July 18 for the adoption of written addresses.
During his testimony, the fifth prosecution witness told the court that while he had never met Kanu in person, he led a DSS team in 2021 to gather intelligence on the EndSARS protests, particularly in the southern region. The team reportedly collected data on damaged public property and death certificates of security personnel killed during the unrest.
The court admitted into evidence three documents tendered by the prosecution: a general protest assessment, a list of deceased officers, and their certificates. According to the report, 128 police officers, 37 soldiers, and 10 DSS operatives died during the protests, which also saw the destruction of 164 police stations and 19 INEC offices.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the witness acknowledged that the protests were not exclusively linked to Biafra or IPOB. He further admitted that no official panel report had indicted IPOB or Kanu for instigating the unrest.
However, he insisted that Kanu’s broadcasts served as an underlying cause of the protests, suggesting they contributed to the atmosphere of dissent.
Kanu, who is facing a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony, has pleaded not guilty.
The upcoming ruling on the no-case submission will determine whether the court finds sufficient grounds for the trial to proceed or if the charges should be dismissed.
