DSS Under Fire: Nnamdi Kanu Details Coercion And Intimidation In Custody

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), told a Federal High Court in Abuja that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) threatened and coerced him into making confessional statements following his arrest in 2015.

Kanu made the disclosure on Wednesday after the prosecution presented its third witness, identified only as CCC, who testified that he was part of the DSS team that interrogated the separatist leader between October 21 and November 4, 2015.

The witness stated that all interrogation sessions were video recorded and that Kanu wrote statements after each session. The federal government’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), submitted two video CDs and three written statements allegedly authored by Kanu as evidence.

Initially, the defense raised no objections. However, Paul Erokoro (SAN), representing Kanu, later challenged the admissibility of the written statements, arguing that they were made under duress and without legal counsel present.

Erokoro told the court, “The DSS denied the defendant access to his lawyer, threatened to withhold bail, and restricted his daily hour of fresh air recommended for his health condition.”

Justice James Omotosho subsequently ordered a trial-within-a-trial to determine whether Kanu’s statements were given voluntarily.

During this separate proceeding, DSS witness CCC maintained that Kanu made the statements willingly. When cross-examined, the witness admitted he had no direct contact with Kanu in his detention cell but knew the officers who did.

Pressing further, Erokoro asked, “If a DSS officer named Mr. Brown threatened the defendant in his cell, would you know?”

CCC responded, “The DSS does not operate like that.”

Kanu himself testified that the coercion began in Lagos, where he was chained, blindfolded, and transported on a plane without being informed of his destination.