The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of alleged confessional statements made by the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The mini trial was approved by Justice James Omotosho following Kanu’s challenge to the admissibility of his recorded statements, which he claims were obtained under duress during interrogation by the Department of State Services (DSS) shortly after his 2015 arrest.
The prosecution sought to tender written statements and a video recording of Kanu’s interview by DSS operatives as evidence. However, Kanu’s legal team, led by Kanu Agabi, SAN, argued that the statements were coerced and that Kanu’s repeated requests for legal counsel during the interrogation were denied.
During the trial-within-trial, a DSS witness testified that Kanu was informed the interview would be recorded and denied allegations that Kanu was maltreated or coerced. The court also played video footage where Kanu made controversial remarks about Nigeria and admitted to founding Radio Biafra and leading IPOB’s global agitation.
Kanu testified that he was struck by a DSS operative during his arrest, causing him to bleed, but that the operative later apologized. The court adjourned the matter to Thursday for continuation of the hearing and to rule on the admissibility of the contested exhibits.
