Latest news with #Ipob
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Court strike out video and written statement DSS obtain from Kanu under pressure
Justice James Omotosho of di Federal High Court Abuja don comot two video evidence and three written statements wey di Nigeria goment bin wan tender as evidence for di trial of Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu, di leader of Ipob, a secession group for Nigeria bin tell di court say im bin dey under duress wen e write di statements, and im lawyer bin no dey present. For di last hearing, Justice Omotosho bin order a trial within trial to establish weda or not to admit di evidences. Delivering im ruling for di proceeding on Thursday, Omotosho say di law provide say any accused pesin suppose get legal representation bifor e go make im statement. Omotosho first tok say di video show say di atmosphere bin dey cordial wen Kanu bin dey make di statement, and e no see any sign of coercion or force. "However, dis court no go close im eyes to di fact say di defendant bin complain regularly about di absence of im counsel," Omotosho tok. According to di trial judge, section 15 of di Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) provide say di statement of a suspect must to be obtained for di presence of im counsel, and wia di suspect no get counsel, an officer of di legal aid council of Nigeria or a member of di civil society suppose dey present. Omotosho say: "Even though di statement bin dey recorded on video, di fact say di lawyer of di defendant no dey present don make di statement inadmissible in evidence "Dis court dey empowered to also expunge di video recordings wey e bin don admit in evidence. As e don dey established say di statement no dey admissible, it holds to law say di video recordings also no dey admissible." "I hereby order as follows:
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Nnamdi Kanu: FG go call dia third witness as trial continue today
Di trial of Nnamdi Kanu leader of di Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) go continue dis Wednesday morning for di Federal High Court Abuja. For today hearing, e dey expected say di Nigeria goment go call dia witness number three. Also, e go be day one of di six days wey di trial judge James Omotosho bin give di prosecution team to call all dia witness and close dia case. Di hearing don start and BBC Pidgin dey on ground to give you di latest updates. Wetin bin don happen for di trial For di last adjourned date, Justice Omotosho bin give di prosecution team di following dates: May 28, 29, and June 6, 16, 18, 19, 2025 to finish dia case so dat di defence team go start dia defence. So far, di Nigeria goment don call two witnesses - Mr AAA and Mr BBB. Both of dem na DSS officers wey lead di first arrest of Nnamdi Kanu in 2017 and di investigation from 2021 afta Kanu rearrest respectively. Witness AAA bin tell di court how di DSS bin first arrest Kanu for one hotel close to di Lagos Airport in October 2017, wit one woman wey bin dey wit am, including plenty broadcasting materials wey dem recover from am. But during cross-examination, e admit say dem no recover any dangerous weapon or instrument of terrorism for im hand. Also Mr AAA say evidence dey, wey link Nnamdi Kanu wit di insecurity for di south east region. For im own witness, Mr BBB say na im lead investigation into allegations of terrorism against Kanu afta security officials re-arrest am for Kenya in 2021, even though e deny say na DSS pipo arrest am for Kenya. BBB say dia evidence bin establish say broadcasts wey Kanu bin dey make on top Radio Biafra and im social media handles, dey directly connected to violence and killings for Lagos State during di End SARS protest of 2020, and also for di southeast region. However, for cross-examination, Kanu lawyers present di report of di Lagos panel of enquiry into di End SARS protest, wey according to am no indict Kanu or Ipob for any violence. Also, Kanu lawyers bin play some videos to retired Army General T.Y Danjuma, di Director General of di Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi, wia dem dey call on di public to rise up and defend diasef from terrorist and bandit attacks. Dem also play video of di guvnor of Imo State Hope Uzodinma, wia e tok say Ipob no dey responsible for di killings in Imo State, but rather na politicians dey behind am. We dey update dis tori.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Nnamdi Kanu lawyers play video of T.Y Danjuma, DG DSS, Hope Uzodinma for court to support dia case
Counsel for Nnamdi Kanu don play videos for court wey show retired Army General T.Y Danjuma and di Director General of DSS Adeola Ajayi wia dem dey tell di public make dem rise up and defend diasef from terrorists and bandits. Paul Erokoro (SAN) tender dis videos for court dis Wednesday, during di conclusion of cross examination of di second prosecution witness - Mr BBB - for di ongoing trial of Kanu, leader of di Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob). Ipob na group wey dey fight for separation for Nigeria, but goment don declare dem as a terrorist organisation and charge Kanu dia leader wit terrorism. Kanu don dey for di custody of di Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021. Inside one of di videos, oga T.Y Danjuma dey tok for wetin look like academic gathering bicos e bin wear one academic gown. E tok say: "Di armed forces no dey neutral, dem dey collude wit armed bandits and terrorists who dey kill pipo. Dem dey give dem information, dem dey cover dem. And if una dey depend on di armed forces to stop di killings, una go all die one by one." Di second video show di DG of DSS, Adeola Ajayi as e dey give speech for one event, and e give example wit one community wey im name na Azare for Bauchi State, wia e took say dem fight back against Boko Haram terrorists wey attack dem and kpai all of dem, "and since den no attack don ever happen for Azare again". For di video, Ajayi give anoda example of one community - Tafawa Balewa for Sokoto State - who bin mobilize and stop bandit attacks for dia community, kpai all di bandits and take dia weapons. "You no expect say di army and police and security forces go secure everywhere for Nigeria. E dey impossible. We gatz get di community to rise and defend diasef and di time to do am na now," di DG tok for di video. Ajayi also say make di community come to di DSS and dem go give dem di necessary approval and strategy to organise diasef against attacks. Di last video wey Kanu lawyers play na wia di guvnor of Imo State hope Uzodinma tok say: "If anybodi tell you say Ipob dey responsible for di killings for Orlu zone, e no dey correct. Na wicked politicians dey sponsor di killings for Orlu." Uzodinma, for di video, ask politicians to embrace di spirit of Easter and comot hand for violence and killings fo di state. Afta di videos don play, Erokoro ask di witness wetin e think. Mr BBB ansa say e support wetin di DG of DSS tok one hundred percent, bicos e dey advice di pipo to get approval bifor dem go mobilise to defend diasef. On di TY Danjuma video, di witness say e hear wetin di retired General tok, but e no go make any comment about am. "You dey aware whether di DSS arrest Danjuma afta e make dis comments?" Erokoro ask, and BBB say e no dey aware of any arrest. For di video Hope Uzodinma, oga BBB say e belive say di guvnor dey refer to political killings for Imo State, but di killings wey IPOB members dey carry out cut across security pipo, civilians and evribodi including politicians. During re-examination, prosecution lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo ask di witness to clarify di difference betwin Amotekun and di Eastern Security Network wey be di security outfit dat Nnamdi Kanu and Ipob bin set up. BBB explain say dem no be di same tin bicos Amotekun dey recognised by law sake of say na all di state houses of assembly for di southwest make legislation to pass am into law, and e also dey registered, but ESN no dey like dat. 'Panel of enquiry on End SARS no indict Ipob' Also for di court session, Nnamdi Kanu lawyer, Erokoro tender di report of di Lagos state judicial panel of enquiry on restitution for victims of the end sars protest as evidence. Dis na afta e ask di witness e dey aware of di End SARS protest and di report of di panel wey investigate di protest. Mr BBB say im dey aware of di protest and di report. "You dey aware say di report bin indict security agencies for dat protest?" Erokoro ask, and BBB say e no dey aware. Erokoro den bring out di panel report and give am to di witness to read out di title and to check weda di document na certified true copy. Afta dat, e apply to tender di document in evidence. Trial Judge, James Omotosho admit di evidence and mark am as exhibit PWO, afta Awomolo say e no get any objection. Also durin di cross-examination, Kanu lawyer ask di witness weda di video of ESN members wey dem bin play for court show say any of di alleged ESN pipo bin carry arms. BBB say e no see any of dem wit gun, but arms fit dey inside dia clothes wey pesin no see. "What kind of arm fit dey concealed like dat," Erokoro ask am, and e reply say pesin fit hide pistols, daggers and even grenade inside dia cloth. Six days for prosecution to close dia case - Judge Afta di cross-examination and re-examination, Justice Omotosho say e dey determined to give accelerated hearing to di matter so dat e no go enta di period wen judges go start dia vacation by late July. E ask both counsels to discus and pick six days inside di next two weeks, so dat di prosecution go call all dia witness and close dia case. "No matter di number of witness wey di prosecution get, if dem no call all of dem and close dia case within dis six days, I go deem dia case closed," Omotosho tok. Nnamdi Kanu lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, and Adegboyega Awomolo wey be di lead prosecutor later agree on May 28, 29 and June 6, 16, 18, 19, 2025. Justice Omotosho adjourn di matter to di dates for continuation of hearing and possible closing of prosecution case. Brief Background Nnamdi Kanu na di leader of Ipob, group we dey fight for di independence of di southeast region of Nigeria. He also be di owner of Radio Bifra wey dey for London wia e dey broadcast im secessionist messages. Di Nigeria goment bin first arrest and arraign Kanu for court in 2015, on top accuse of terrorism, treason, and plan to scatter di goment. Court later grant am bail on health grounds in 2017, but e run comot for Nigeria afta e claim say soldiers invade im house to kill am and dem kill 28 pipo. Kanu continue to dey spread im message on top Radio Biafra and for im social media handles. In June 2021, security forces arrest Kanu for Kenya and bring am by force to Nigeria to continue im trial. Kanu and im lawyers dey claim say e dey illegal how dem kidnap am from Kenya and rendition am by force. Di matter start again bifor Justice Binta Nyako; a total of 15-count charges na wetin di goment sama Kanu. Justice Nyako later strike out eight of di charges, remaining di following seven: Kanu lawyers take di matter to di court of appeal wia dem strike out all di charges and discharge and acquit Kanu. However, di Supreme Court rule say Kanu get case to ansa and dem return di matter to di High Court. Kanu later tok say e no get confidence on Binta Nyako to deliver Justice for di matter, and di judge las las wash her hand comot. Dem reassign di case to Justice James Omotosho and e start afresh as Nnamdi Kanu plead not guilty to di charges.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Court accept Ahmed Gulak death certificate as evidence against Kanu
Di Federal High Court Abuja court for Abuja, Nigeria capital don adjourn di trial of Indigenous People of Biafra [Ipob] group leader, Nnamdi Kanu to 21 May, 2025 to kontinu im defence. Di trial of Nnamdi Kanu bin kontinu on Wednesday for court wia di prosecution present dia second witness, Mr BBB. During di proceedings , court admit di medical report and death certificate of former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak. Di court admit dis documents as evidence for di ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, wey dey face charges related to terrorism. Justice James Omotoso, wey preside ova di proceedings, allow di prosecution witness wey dem identify as Mr BBB to tender di documents. Im tender di documents wit no objection from di defence team wey Kanu Agabi (SAN), Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN) and Aloy Ejimakor dey lead. Di prosecution, wey Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) dey lead present di documents, wey include police report from Owerri, Imo State, south-eastern Nigeria, wey link Gulak death to gunmen wey dem suspect to be ipob members. How di proceedings waka During di cross-examination, defence counsel Kanu Agabi challenge di credibility and completeness of di video statement wey dem bin obtain from Kanu wen im bin dey DSS custody. Im tok say only di defendant and im team show for di video recording. Di witness respond say, "Na di procedure be dat," im confam say na di full recording be dat. Agabi raise di issue of how Kanu don overstay for detention and how im dey allegedly live a lonely life for detention. Di witness, still tok say im be ordinary investigator and im no dey responsible for di custody of Kanu or im welfare. Im tok say: "Solitary confinement no be di practice of di DSS. No be me be im handler." Di defence still ask if di prolonged detention of Nnamdi Kanu dey legal, as im claim say na cruel and inhuman treatment in dey pass through, but di witness insist say im dey unaware of Kanu psychological state and no be part of im investigative duty. Di defence counsel kontinu di witness question, di witness say im bin no dey among di pipo wey draft di charges and im no go fit confam di dates of different different charge amendments wey dem do against di defendant. Oga Agabi say di charges dey speculative, and di witness still tell dem about im limited role as ordinary investigator. Dem tell di court say despite plenti amendments wey dem bin don do for di charge sheet ova several years, di investigating officer bin no confront Kanu wit im accusers. Di witness admit say dem bin only present a letter from di Attorney-General of di Federation (AGF) but dem no facilitate any face-to-face encounter. Tensions rose bin rise wen Agabi argue say di AGF bin direct an investigation long afta dem file di charges. Di witness say im bin no dey aware of wen dem bin file di charges. Im insist say im bin act only on di directive wey dem bin minute to am. On requests for critical documents, Agabi inform di court say di defence bin apply for certain police records but dem neva receive dem yet. Di prosecution counsel Awomolo oppose di adjournment, as im cite di court order for accelerated hearing, Justice Omotoso grant dem short adjournment. "Di mata get international and domestic interest," di judge tok, as e warn against unnecessary delays. "I dey inclined to grant di adjournment today to make sure say we hear di defence properly. Abeg use di opportunity well; we dey hia for justice."
Free Malaysia Today
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Gunmen kill 30 travellers in Nigeria's unstable southeast
Civil war engulfed Nigeria's Biafra region in the late 1960s, killing more than a million people. (EPA Images pic) LAGOS : Gunmen shot dead at least 30 travellers in an attack in Nigeria's southeastern Imo state, Amnesty International said yesterday, raising fresh concerns about violence in a region rife with insecurity. More than 20 vehicles and trucks were set ablaze by the attackers, who were suspected to be members of the banned separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), Amnesty said in a post on X. Imo police spokesman Henry Okoye confirmed the attack occurred in Thursday's early hours, but declined comment on the number of fatalities. One of the assailants was killed by the police, Okoye told Reuters yesterday. A police statement said the gunmen, operating in three groups, barricaded the highway at about 4am and shot sporadically before setting vehicles ablaze. 'A full-scale search and cordon operation is currently underway, with security operatives combing nearby forests and surrounding areas where the suspects are believed to be hiding,' the police said in the statement. Ipob campaigns for the secession of southeastern Nigeria, where the majority belong to the Igbo ethnic group. Nigerian authorities have labelled Ipob a terrorist organisation. Civil war engulfed the Biafra region in the late 1960s, killing more than a million people. Thursday's attack coincided with a visit by president Bola Tinubu to the region, occurring in the same week that IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu appeared in federal court where he is facing trial on terrorism charges. Amnesty called on Nigerian authorities to investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.
