Nation
Court Admits DSS Report Linking Nnamdi Kanu to #EndSARS Violence
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has admitted into evidence a report by the Department of State Services (DSS) that allegedly links Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to widespread violence during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
Justice James Omotoso admitted the report on Thursday during the resumed hearing of the terrorism charges brought against Kanu by the Federal Government.
The prosecution, led by senior advocate Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), tendered the report through the fifth prosecution witness, identified in court only as “Mr EEE,” a DSS operative, whose identity was protected for security reasons.
Testifying, the witness said he was part of a team dispatched to the South-East and other parts of the country to gather intelligence and document the destruction that occurred during the #EndSARS protests. He told the court that his assignment was to collect evidence of attacks on public property and killings of security personnel, allegedly incited by Kanu’s broadcasts and social media messages.
“I know the defendant through the media. I have never met him personally,” EEE told the court.
According to the witness, the unrest led to the deaths of 186 police officers, 37 military personnel, and 10 DSS operatives. He also reported the destruction of 164 police stations and nine offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across 17 states—including Lagos, Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, and Rivers.
The court admitted as exhibits the DSS damage assessment report, death certificates of some slain officers, and a certificate of compliance submitted through the witness by the prosecution.
Although defence counsel Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) objected to the admissibility of the documents, Justice Omotoso reserved a ruling on the objections to a later date.
During cross-examination, Dr. Ikpeazu pressed the witness on the legitimacy of the claims linking Kanu to the violence.
“You were not directly involved in the investigation of the defendant himself, correct?” Ikpeazu asked.
The case has been adjourned for continuation of hearing.
