By Anthony Ochela
Trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday continued before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Department of State Services, DSS, through its witness, told the court that on October 14, 2015, when Kanu was arrested in a hotel at the Lagos International Airport, no weapon of terrorism was found on him.
Giving his evidence under the codename PWAAA, his identity shielded for security purpose, the witness admitted that most of the items found with Kanu were his personal belongings, among which included materials for radio broadcast.
The witness, a DSS operative, however, insisted that though the recovered items may not be ordinarily harmful, he said their intended usage by the defendant could be a source of problem.
While being cross-examined by Kanu’s legal team led by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, SAN, the witness listed the items recovered to include: one black laptop, two multi mix transmitters, one mini white Apple iPad with pouch, one grey Apple iPad with pouch, one grey MacBook with pouch, one grey MacBook with case, one mini drone sound wave speaker, two mini white speakers, one large computer mouse, one white adaptor, one laptop adaptor and one carton bag with laptop among others.
The recovered items, which were brought before the court in four suitcases, were earlier admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits by Justice Omotosho.
Answering questions during the cross-examination, the witness, admitted that he did not analyse any of the items, as he was only mandated to arrest the defendant and obtain his statement.
Though PWAAA admitted that Kanu’s phones were eventually analysed, he said the report of the analysis was not tendered before the court as it was not considered important.
The witness admitted that at the time Kanu’s statement was obtained, none of his lawyers were present to observe the process.
Wjen asked if he was aware of other persons also facing trial over Biafra agitation, the witness answered in the negative, saying he does not know any person that is facing a similar trial as Kanu.
He, however, told the court that he is aware that Simon Ekpa has been arrested and would soon be brought back to Nigeria to face trial for supporting Kanu’s agitation.
He also told the court that he could not remember any time that Kanu complained about corruption in high places, high unemployment rate among youths or when he tendered apologies for insulting the president and Igbo leaders.
