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In a dramatic turn of events at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, a High Court judgment from Abia State which awarded N1 billion in damages to Nnamdi Kanu was admitted as evidence.
The judgment stemmed from a previous case in which the court ruled that the military invasion of Kanu’s home in 2017 was illegal.
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is currently facing charges from the federal government, including treasonable felony and terrorism.
The government alleges that Kanu used his media platform, Radio Biafra, to threaten Nigerians and incite unrest in the southeast. Specifically, they accuse him of ordering sit-at-home protests that caused banks, schools, and other businesses to shut down.
However, during the Wednesday court session, Kanu’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), presented the Abia State High Court judgment from case number HIN/FR/4/2021. The judgment clearly stated that the invasion of Kanu’s home on September 10, 2017, violated his fundamental rights, and it awarded him N1 billion in damages. Justice James Omotoso accepted the document into evidence without opposition from the federal government’s legal team.
An officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), identified in court by the code-name “BBB,” testified during the trial. The DSS officer claimed that Kanu was not arrested or detained in Kenya by Nigerian authorities, as Kanu had previously alleged. He said the DSS only operates within Nigeria and did not kidnap Kanu abroad.
Under cross-examination, the DSS officer said that Kanu called for Biafra’s independence “by any means necessary, including war.” He also alleged that Kanu encouraged violence and was linked to property destruction during the EndSARS protests in Lagos. However, the officer could not provide names of police stations or specific instances involving IPOB members.
The court also heard that Kanu’s sit-at-home orders were different from normal protests because people were reportedly forced to comply. The DSS witness said the orders were enforced through threats and fear.
During the cross-examination, Kanu’s lawyer asked if the DSS officer had read or was aware of past court rulings that declared the arrest and treatment of Kanu unlawful. The witness confirmed that he had read about the decisions in newspapers. He was then shown the certified true copy of the Abia High Court judgment, which listed Kanu as the plaintiff and the Federal Government, Nigerian Army, and DSS among the defendants.
Kanu’s lawyer also presented two more court judgments—one from the Federal High Court in Umuahia and another from 2023—both of which were admitted as exhibits.
Despite the serious accusations, Kanu’s legal team continues to challenge the legality of his arrest and the actions of Nigerian security agencies. They argue that the case is not just about terrorism but also about the violation of human rights.
The court session ended with the judge stating that the cross-examination of the DSS witness, code-named “BBB,” must be concluded by Thursday. If the defense team fails to finish, the court will consider the cross-examination closed.
As the legal battle continues, the case of Nnamdi Kanu remains one of the most watched trials in Nigeria, drawing national and international attention. Many are waiting to see how the court will balance the government’s claims of national security with Kanu’s claims of human rights violations and political persecution.
