NNAMDI KANU’S LAWYER, PROSECUTION DISAGREE ON VIDEO RECORDING, DETENTION

NNAMDI KANU’S LAWYER, PROSECUTION DISAGREE ON VIDEO RECORDING, DETENTION

Lawyers to the leader of Nnamdi Kanu, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the federal government prosecution team have disagreed over the video recording of the statement he made while in custody and his prolonged detention.

Kanu is standing trial on seven-count charges of alleged terrorism before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Following prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo’s tendering of documents, including a police report, medical report and death certificate of former political adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, whose death was linked to gunmen suspected to be members of the IPOB.

However, during cross-examination, defence counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN) challenged the credibility and completeness of the video statement obtained from Kanu during DSS custody, stating that only the defendant and his team were visible in the footage.

‎The witness responded that it was the procedure for recording of statement taking and could not recall whether he wore a mask during the interview.

‎Further, Agabi questioned why Kanu had been detained for a long time under alleged solitary confinement.

‎The witness, however, maintained that he was merely an investigator and not responsible for Kanu’s custody or welfare, saying: “Solitary confinement is not a practice of the DSS. I am not his handler.”

‎Agabi complained that he was not served with the documents presented in court and adjournment to enable him receive them.

However, Awomolo objected to the application and court to order the defence to continue the cross examination to avoid delaying the trial as there were five other witnesses.

‎‎in his ruling, Justice James Omotosho noted that although it was required that matters of this magnitude be tried on day-to-day, he was granting an adjournment to enable the defence receive the documents.

Meanwhile, Agabi has dismissed reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) denied him access to Kanu at their facility, noting that he went there much earlier than the scheduled time.

‎‎Justice Omotosho faulted a member of the defence team, Aloy Ejimakor, for making a social media post alleging that Agabi was stopped by DSS from accessing their client in custody.

Ejimakor said he misread Agabi’s tone when he informed him of his inability to see Kanu during the visit.

‎Consequently, the judge fixed May 21 for the hearing.