The trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resumed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, with proceedings adjourned until May 2, 2025.
During the court session, an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), identified only as PWAAA, testified as the first prosecution witness under anonymity. He appeared behind a screen, shielded from public view, though Kanu was allowed to see him under legal procedures.
“What happened in court today was very simple,” said Kanu’s Special Counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, while addressing journalists. “Finally, the government is getting the so-called trial that it has always desired as of late.”
“It didn’t desire this trial for the past 10 years but for the past seven months, the government has been intent on having a trial,” he added.
The DSS operative, PWAAA, informed the court that he led the team that arrested Kanu on October 14, 2015, at Golden Tulip Hotel near Lagos International Airport, upon his arrival from the United Kingdom.
The court admitted into evidence an extra-judicial statement made by Kanu shortly after his 2015 arrest. The DSS also submitted video recordings of his interrogation and presented four suitcases containing items recovered from his hotel room. According to the prosecution, these items were allegedly linked to Radio Biafra broadcasts.
What Was Presented in Court
Justice James Omotosho admitted the recovered items as exhibits. Below are the contents of the four suitcases presented by the prosecution:
Suitcase 1: A black laptop, multi-mix transmitter, two iPads, two MacBooks, sound speakers, adaptors, and related electronics.
Suitcase 2: Several modems, flash drives, camcorder, microphones, phones, headphones, and personal items such as footwear and a belt.
Suitcase 3: Wristwatches, singlets, perfumes, and trinkets.
Suitcase 4: Passports (Nigerian and British), IPOB documents, a white clipper, bottles of perfume, and cords.
Despite the lengthy list of possessions, Ejimakor stressed the absence of any incriminating materials. “Trial has commenced today and we have seen that the prosecution witness was examined on direct examination by the prosecutor,” he said.
“The prosecutor made an application before then for the witness to be masked or to be screened away from the eye view of the general public,” he explained. “The only person that can behold him was Nnamdi Kanu because the law requires that.”
The trial was adjourned for cross-examination of the witness. “What is going to happen on May 2 is very specific and simple. We are going to subject the witness to cross-examination. We are going to ask him to explain certain things,” Ejimakor stated.
He added, “His answers to the questions put to him today will not be taken as true until we finish cross-examining him on May 2.”
“We are hopeful that through this trial, we shall be able to show that Nnamdi Kanu did not commit any offence known to law.”
IPOB Reacts: ‘Trial Is a Sham’
In response to the court proceedings, IPOB criticized the Nigerian government, calling the trial a staged act. A statement from IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, claimed that the evidence presented in court lacked substance.
“Today, the prosecution presented what they claimed to be ‘incriminating evidence’ against Nnamdi Kanu, to justify their long-standing persecution of him and the proscription of our movement,” the statement read.
UPDATE: Today’s MNK hearing has been concluded. The prosecution presented its first witness who was not identified by name but by initials only & he testified from behind a screen, as was approved by the Judge. On 2nd May, we shall cross-examine him & test his veracity. pic.twitter.com/FxZDC802Ui
— aloy ejimakor (@AloyEjimakor) April 29, 2025
“To the shock and dismay of all present, including international observers, the so-called evidence consisted of four boxes containing Mazi Kanu’s personal belongings: wristwatches, a microphone, a DJ mixer (falsely labeled a transmitter), cables, Arabian perfumes purchased for his mother and mother-in-law, a brown shoe, laptops, chargers, and phones.”
“No bombs, guns, grenades, or attack plans were found—because none exist.”
According to IPOB, the items shown in court were typical personal possessions, not evidence of criminal conduct. “The items presented in court are not weapons of terrorism but ordinary possessions of a man who has consistently and openly declared his mission as a freedom fighter dedicated to the liberation of his people through peaceful means, including a referendum,” Powerful added.
He concluded, “This revelation lays bare the truth: there is no evidence to support the grave accusations levelled against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
IPOB called on both the Nigerian and British governments to discontinue the legal process. “With the utmost humility, IPOB calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Kingdom to end this charade masquerading as a trial.”
The statement also addressed the emotional and social costs of the ongoing case. “The persecution of Mazi Kanu and IPOB, which has led to the loss of countless lives, including his parents, must cease.”
Reaffirming its stance, IPOB declared, “The absence of any incriminating evidence today underscores what we have always maintained: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not a terrorist but a noble advocate for the oppressed.”
“We urge all stakeholders to recognize this truth and work toward a just resolution. Let us build a future where the aspirations of all peoples are respected, and the dignity of existence is upheld for everyone.”
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