28/05/2025
Update On Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Ongoing Court Proceedings Commences:
Court begins at 9:00am; in the case of FRN vs Nnamdi Kanu
Prosecution announces appearance as the defence announces appearance too, led by Kanu Agabi, SAN.
Both parties affirm readiness for the business of the day — cross-examination of prosecution's third witness.
Third witness, PW3, shielded and known as Mr. CCC is being led in oath
Mr. CCC says he is a DSS operative for 27 years. Says he knows Nnamdi Kanu as the leader of IPOB
PW3-CCC says he knew MNK since 2015.
Transcription Of Examination Proceedings Witness PW3-CCC.
PROSECUTION: Can you please tell the court who you are and if you know the defendant?
WITNESS: I work with the SSS. I've worked for 27yrs. I know the defendant, He's the leader and founder of IPOB, a terrorist organization. He founded radio Biafra he used to invite violence to the public.
My first encounter with him was in 2015, when I was asked to interrogate him after his arrest.
I invited him with three other officers for interview, I told him his interview was going to be recorded and he agreed.
He agreed to be recorded and also wrote down a statement himself. The interview was conducted on Oct 21st and written interview was on 23rd Oct both in 2015.
The prosecution present the video interview and written statement of the defendant to the witness for identification
The witness has confirmed both.
PROSECUTION: You also told the court the defendant made written statement, right?
WITNESS: Yes, my lord
Prosecution takes permission to show the defendant the written statement obtained in 2015
Written statement is shown to the defendant (Nnamdi Kanu)
DEFENCE COUNSEL(interjects): My client says the said 'written statement' under duress
JUDGE to DEFENSE: You mean the 3 statements were made under duress?
JUDGE: Can you prove it? Otherwise, I'm going to order "trial within trial". You have to prove it in specifics that your client made the statements involuntarily (under duress).
Subsequently, the judge has asked the defendant to give element of his involuntariness to the written statement, asked that the defendant be given a sheet of paper to write them down.
Paul Erokoro SAN reads the defendant's involuntariness statement:
"I asked for my lawyer and the DSS refused. It wasn’t the gentleman in the dock that interviewed me, it was one Mr Brown. I was in dungeon and was allowed one hour of air time but Mr Brown threatened that if I did not write down what they wanted, the one hour airtime will to be taken away from me. I was forced by the DSS agent to write down some words against my will. And, I was bleeding from the nose at that time."
JUDGE: What do you (prosecution) have to say about the said involuntariness?
PROSECUTION: He was not beaten to made these statements.
PROSECUTION to WITNESS: You also told the court the defendant made written statement
CCC: Yes, my lord.
Judge orders "TRIAL WITHIN TRIAL" to determine whether or not the statements made by the defendant was not under duress.
N/B: A "trial within trial" is a legal procedure used in criminal trials, particularly in jurisdictions like Nigeria, where a confessional statement (a statement made by the accused admitting to a crime) is tendered as evidence. It's essentially a mini-trial within the main trial, designed to specifically determine whether the confessional statement was made voluntarily or involuntarily.
JUDGE: This witness shall be called "PW1- TAA"
PROSECUTION to MR TAA: How do you know the defendant?
TAA: He is the leader of IPOB.
PROSECUTION: Do you know Mr Brown?
WITNESS: I'm not sure. I interviewed the defendant with my two colleagues namely, James Ibrahim and Collins. There was no Mr Brown with us.
PROSECUTION: Did the defendant at any time make any request to you before his statement was taken?
WITNESS: He did not make any request, he only said he wanted to rest.
PROSECUTION: Did he make any request for his lawyer, I’m not aware but he didn’t ask me for his lawyer.
PROSECUTION: He said he was put in solitary confinement?
WITNESS: I’m not aware of that, if you watch the video you will see a table water was even placed before him not satchet water. So, I’m surprised he is saying this.
PROSECUTION : Did he tell you about his ill health?
WITNESS; I’m not a medical doctor, so I did not know if he was sick, but he didn’t mention he was sick to me.
PROSECUTION: He said you put words in his mouth?
WITNESS; It’s not true, he said everything voluntarily and happily.
PROSECUTION: He said you told him some things to write about president jonathan.
WITNESS: It’s not true my lord. We can play the video.
PROSECUTION: My Lord, may we play the video?
JUDGE: No, we have not reached that stage. This is a TRIAL WITHIN TRIAL.
Credit: FWP International
Stay tuned For More Update: Biafra liberation time.
