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The statement said, “The so-called trial of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which has long degenerated into a circus, reached its lowest point yet in Abuja yesterday. In a desperate attempt to sustain their collapsed case, the Nigerian government, through Awomolo SAN, shamelessly presented as evidence a newspaper publication which purportedly quoted a man named Onye Army. According to Vanguard newspaper, Onye Army allegedly confessed that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu ordered him to kill 2,000 people, but he managed to kill only 30. “Let it be made clear to the Nigerian public and the international community: Onye Army never appeared in court. He never testified. His so-called statement was never given in court or even directly to the DSS investigators handling the case. Instead, it was PW-DDD — a DSS operative — who merely read out what Vanguard newspaper claimed that Onye Army said. Incredibly, PW-DDD admitted under oath that he never interviewed Onye Army and had no first-hand knowledge of any such confession. “The most grotesque part of this charade is that Onye Army is dead — killed while in DSS custody. He is not available for cross-examination, verification, or confirmation of any statement attributed to him. This is not law. This is not justice. This is outright fraud upon the court.” Further faulting the evidence, the statement added, “The Nigerian government has now fully descended into graveyard evidence—fabricating confessions of people they have killed—and tendering them through newspaper clippings. This scandalous conduct violates every known principle of Nigerian law, including: “Section 29 of the Evidence Act: Prohibiting involuntary and unverified confessions. Section 83(1) of the Evidence Act: Rendering third-party hearsay newspaper reports inadmissible. Section 36(6) of the Constitution: Guaranteeing the accused the right to confront his accusers. Section 36(8) of the Constitution: Prohibiting further prosecution where punishment has already been served or exceeded.” The statement further insisted that Kanu’s trial is illegal, giving a number of reasons to justify the argument. “Beyond the brazen evidentiary fraud, he trial itself remains fundamentally illegal for several reasons: “No jurisdiction in Abuja: The Court of Appeal (CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022) has already ruled that the alleged offence, if any, occurred in Ubulisiuzor, Anambra State, and can only be tried by the Federal High Court in Awka — not Abuja. The continued proceedings in Abuja are in open contempt of that binding judgment. “Violation of Customs Law (CEMA): Under Section 178 of CEMA, jurisdiction lies only where the offence occurred or where the accused resides. Abuja meets neither condition. This Abuja trial is forum shopping and gross abuse of court process. “Statute-barred offence: The alleged offence of importation of transmitter under CEMA carries a maximum limitation period of five years. More than five years have elapsed, rendering this prosecution legally dead on arrival. “Excessive detention: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been illegally detained for nearly four years since his unlawful rendition from Kenya. This far exceeds the maximum penalty for the alleged customs offence, violating his constitutional rights under Section 36(8) and binding case law in Uzoukwu v. Ezeonu II (1991) 6 NWLR (Pt. 200) 708. “Staged inspection exercise: The recent so-called inspection of a radio transmitter by Justice Omotosho inside DSS headquarters has no legal foundation. The Court of Appeal had already ruled that such matters belong in Awka, not Abuja. This exercise was nothing but media choreography to please bloodthirsty political hawks.” IPOB added, “The entire proceeding is nothing but a well-rehearsed media circus designed to produce headlines, not justice. The Nigerian judiciary is being dragged into disrepute before the entire world. Every illegal act by this government in this matter only deepens Nigeria’s global disgrace. “We remind the Nigerian government that injustice breeds chaos. No amount of manufactured evidence, fraudulent confessions, or forum shopping will destroy the truth. The whole world is watching this charade. The only honorable path left is for this sham trial to be terminated immediately.” Declaring that “History will vindicate Mazi Nnamdi Kanu”, the statement stressed that “IPOB remains unshaken” and “Justice will prevail”. Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, is facing trial on terrorism-related charges before Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Federal High Court. Justice Binta Nyako initially presided over the trial but the case was transferred to Justice Omotosho after she recused herself, following Kanu’s declaration that he has lost confidence in her judgement. Kanu was first arrested in 2017 for agitating for an independent Biafra nation and later released on bail. He subsequently escaped to Europe after Nigerian soldiers invaded his residence in Afaraukwu, Abia State, during the Operation Python Dance. In June 2021, Kanu was rearrested in Kenya and subjected to extraordinary rendition back to Nigeria. He has been detained in the DSS facility since then.

IPOB accuses Nigerian Govt of using dead man’s statement in Nnamdi Kanu’s trial

mars June 16, 2025 0