DSS forced me to make confessional statements – Nnamdi Kanu tells court

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The head of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has alleged that a Department of State Services (DSS) officer intimidated him into making incriminating statements after his 2015 detention.

Kanu shared this claim on Wednesday after the prosecution presented its third witness, known only by the initials CCC.

Similar to the previous witnesses, AAA and BBB, CCC told the court he was involved in the DSS investigation of Kanu during that year.

He stated that he, along with two other agents, questioned Kanu on multiple occasions specifically on October 21st through 24th, and again on November 4th.

The witness also said that these interview sessions were captured on video, and that Kanu submitted written statements following each meeting.

Federal government lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo presented two video CDs of the recorded interviews and three documents believed to be written statements from Kanu.

Although Kanu’s legal team initially did not challenge these materials, one of his senior lawyers, Paul Erokoro, later contested their inclusion.

Erokoro informed the court that Kanu had only just disclosed that those statements were made under pressure.

He explained that DSS officials allegedly prevented Kanu from seeing his legal counsel, threatened to deny him bail, and refused to allow him a medically recommended daily hour of fresh air.

Judge James Omotosho responded by initiating a “trial-within-a-trial” to determine if the statements were given freely.

During this hearing, the DSS witness maintained that Kanu provided the statements without any coercion.

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Kanu’s lawyer cross-examined the witness about his familiarity with the detention protocols, whether he personally knew all personnel at DSS headquarters, and whether he had any direct contact with Kanu inside the cell.

The witness responded that although he hadn’t entered the cell, he knew the guards stationed there who interacted with Kanu.

Erokoro challenged the witness, saying, “I put it to you that if any DSS officer named Mr. Brown visited the defendant in his cell to threaten him, you wouldn’t know.”

To this, the witness replied that such conduct was not in line with DSS procedures.

Kanu, while testifying in the trial-within-a-trial, said that his mistreatment began in Lagos, where his limbs were shackled, a blindfold was placed over his eyes, and he was put on an aircraft.

He said he had no idea where he was being taken after arriving in Abuja.

Kanu further claimed that he was isolated in a cell without any access to light.

He alleged that a man identified as Mr. Brown, believed to be an assistant director of investigations, threatened him to comply during interrogations or remain in solitary confinement indefinitely.

Due to his deteriorating health and poor cell conditions, Kanu said he began to suffer from nosebleeds. A doctor at the facility reportedly recommended he be allowed daily outdoor time for medical reasons.

“Mr. Brown threatened me that if I don’t do what they ask, they will stop giving me that one-hour break,” Kanu said through his lawyer.

While being cross-examined by the prosecution, Nnamdi Kanu maintained that sections of the video interview shown in court had been deliberately removed.

He further alleged that officers from the Department of State Services had compelled him to write the statements presented in court.

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Following his testimony, proceedings for the trial-within-a-trial came to an end.

The presiding judge then directed both the prosecution and defence to submit their final written arguments by 9 a.m. on May 29.

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