Nnamdi Kanu to court: DSS forced me to make confessional statements under duress

Kanu in court

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), says he was threatened by an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) to make confessional statements after his arrest in 2015.

Kanu spoke on Wednesday after the prosecution called its third witness, simply identified as CCC.

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), says he was threatened by an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) to make confessional statements after his arrest in 2015.

Kanu spoke on Wednesday after the prosecution called its third witness, simply identified as CCC.The witness said he and two other DSS officers interviewed Kanu on October 21, 22, 23 and 24 and also on November 4.

He said the interview was recorded on video, noting that Kanu also wrote statements after every session.

Adegboyega Awomolo, counsel to the federal government, tendered two video compact discs (CDs) containing the interviews and also three copies of statements allegedly written by Kanu.Although the defence team did not oppose the exhibits at first, Paul Erokoro, one of the senior advocates who spoke on behalf of Kanu, later raised an objection.

Erokoro said Kanu had just informed him that the written statements were made under duress.

The IPOB leader’s counsel told the court that DSS operatives denied the defendant access to his lawyer, threatened to deny him bail and withheld his daily hour of fresh air recommended due to his health condition.

James Omotosho, presiding judge, ordered the conduct of a trial-within-a-trial to ascertain the voluntariness or otherwise of the defendant’s statements.