Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that his agitation for the liberation of the South East, South South, and parts of Benue and Kogi States is a lawful struggle and not an act of terrorism.
Kanu made the assertion in a statement he voluntarily gave to operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on October 15, 2015, during his arrest in Lagos. The statement, which was tendered and admitted in court on Tuesday, was read in open court by a DSS operative, code-named PWAAA, currently testifying as a prosecution witness.
According to the detained IPOB leader, freedom fighting is recognised globally as a fundamental human right and does not constitute a crime under any law Nigerian or international. He distanced himself from any form of violence, saying he had never been involved in or linked to any violent act anywhere in the country.
The federal government’s counsel, Chief Adegboyega Solomon (SAN), applied to have the statement read publicly, a request which was not opposed by Kanu’s legal team. The court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, subsequently admitted the statement as an exhibit.
In addition to the written statement, video recordings of Kanu’s interrogation by DSS operatives were played in court and equally admitted into evidence without objection from the defence team.
Also tendered before the court were four suitcases containing items recovered from the hotel room where Kanu was arrested in 2015. The suitcases reportedly contained personal belongings and equipment allegedly used to operate Radio Biafra.
Kanu, in both the statement and the videos, admitted to establishing Radio Biafra in London, where it was officially registered. However, he noted that the station was not registered with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in Nigeria, as he did not consider it necessary.
The matter has been adjourned for further hearing.