A prosecution witness has testified that Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), incited violence against top government officials in Nigeria.
The revelation was made during a hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the second prosecution witness made the allegations while being led in evidence by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adegboyega Awomolo.
The witness said Kanu admitted to making several broadcasts that were later saved on a flash drive.
The recordings were presented as evidence and played in open court.
The court heard that seven different broadcasts were included in the flash drive.
In one of the broadcasts dated December 12, 2020, Kanu described the Eastern Security Network (ESN) as a vigilante group.
He compared ESN to the Amotekun Corps in the South-West and the Miyetti Allah group in the North.
He claimed the ESN was formed to protect the South-East from external aggression.
However, the broadcast allegedly took a violent turn.
Kanu was said to have accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of offering a N50 million bounty on the head of a Biafran.
In response, Kanu reportedly placed a N100 million bounty on Wike’s head.
He allegedly called on his followers to kill Wike, stating that he would pay them cash.
The witness quoted Kanu as saying, “N100 million for anyone who can take Wike down. Dead or alive, Wike is N100 million. I will pay cash.”
Kanu also said, “The bounty on Wike’s head is N100 million. Get me his head, you will get N100 million.”
The court was told that Kanu further declared that Wike did not deserve to live.
He warned that any governor who allowed the killing of Biafrans would suffer similar consequences.
In another broadcast dated October 20, 2020, Kanu allegedly incited violence during the End SARS protests.
He was said to have instructed his followers to ignite chaos in Lagos.
He referred to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a traitor.
He urged his supporters to attack Tinubu and destroy his properties.
According to the witness, Kanu encouraged the burning of Tinubu’s hotel.
He also reportedly ordered his followers to kill police officers and other security personnel.
The broadcast suggested that Tinubu should not be allowed to escape unhurt.
Another broadcast allegedly repeated the bounty on Wike’s head.
Kanu reportedly maintained his call for the minister’s assassination.
These broadcasts were described by the witness as consistent patterns of incitement.
The Nigerian government has charged Kanu with terrorism, incitement, and treasonable felony.
Kanu has been in detention since 2021 after his re-arrest and extradition.
He was initially arrested in 2015 but fled the country while on bail.
The government banned IPOB in 2017, labeling it a terrorist group.
The group has denied the accusations and claims to be non-violent.
Kanu insists that IPOB is fighting for the self-determination of the South-East.
The ESN, formed by IPOB, has also been accused of carrying out attacks on security formations.
The government believes Kanu’s speeches inspired these violent actions.
Kanu’s legal team has denied all allegations.
They claim that his statements were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
They also plan to challenge the admissibility of the audio recordings.
The trial remains one of the most closely followed cases in Nigeria’s legal history.
Political and ethnic tensions have made the case even more sensitive.
The court is expected to reconvene soon for further proceedings.
The defense will have an opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
Observers both within and outside Nigeria continue to monitor the trial closely.
The outcome of the case could have significant implications for national unity.
Many Nigerians are watching to see how justice will be served in this high-stakes trial.