The Federal High Court in Abuja stood down proceedings to deliver ruling on the admissibility of the evidence sought to be tendered by the Federal Government in the ongoing trial of leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. 

Justice James Omotosho stood down the matter after FG’s counsel, Suraj Saida, SAN, and Mr Kanu’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro, SAN, adopted their written addresses and argued their case for and against the propriety of the evidence.

Justice Omotosho, on Wednesday, ordered a trial-within-trial following Mr Kanu’s rejection of the extrajudicial statements sought to be tendered by the prosecution.

The IPOB leader alleged that the statements were made by him under duress.

Mr Kanu alleged that State Security Service officials, who interrogated him, denied him access to his lawyer, threatened not to allow him bail and denied him the one-hour granted to him daily to receive fresh air in view of his health challenge.

He said he was threatened by a SSS investigator, who he described as Brown Ukuaba, an Assistant Director of investigation.

He also alleged that his interrogators asked him to say things about ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and former governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, which were not his words.

He said he was kept in an underground cell and in solitary confinement.

He claimed that the video recordings played in court were edited.

The FG’s witness, a SSS operative, however debunked the allegations, saying they were untrue.

The witness insisted that Mr Kanu was never subjected to coercion and that all the complaints he raised were addressed.

He denied that Mr Kanu was subjected to any form of duress or coercion.

The witness also faulted Mr Kanu’s claim that he was kept in solitary confinement in an underground cell and that he suffered ill-treatment.

He said that Mr Kanu was given preferential treatment and served bottled water during the interview sessions.

The witness said he was surprised to hear the allegations made by the defendant.

He also denied that anyone asked Mr Kanu to say things about Mr Jonathan and Mr Okorocha, adding that Mr Kanu “spoke voluntarily and truthfully in the interviews.”

Justice Omotosho then ordered the conduct of a trial-within-trial to ascertain the voluntariness or otherwise of Mr Kanu’s statements. 

(NAN)