• 22 May, 2025
• FAITH MIMDOO KEGH
• No comment

Witness in Kanu Trial Labels ESN Illegal, Compares It to Legally Backed Amotekun.

At the Federal High Court in Abuja, a second prosecution witness in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu testified that the Eastern Security Network (ESN), founded by Kanu, operates illegally, in contrast to Amotekun, which is backed by legislation from the South-West states.

The witness, identified only as “BBB,” made the statement during re-examination by the prosecution, explaining that Amotekun was lawfully established through state laws, while ESN has no legal foundation.

He also referenced a past statement by the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), who had encouraged community policing, provided it operates under the oversight of recognized security agencies.

During the proceedings, the court admitted into evidence three videos submitted by the defence. These were played in open court:

  In the first, the DSS DG advocated for communities to form local defence units under the supervision of security bodies.
  In the second, former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma alleged at a public event that some military personnel were complicit in ongoing violence. The witness declined to interpret Danjuma’s remarks.
  The third video featured Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma linking unrest in his state to unnamed political actors. The witness stood by the DSS’s findings that IPOB members were responsible for specific killings in Orlu, citing evidence the agency had gathered.

The witness also confirmed that IPOB remains proscribed by a court and that Kanu has been affiliated with it before and after the ban.

When questioned about the EndSARS protests, the witness acknowledged that they were aimed at ending the SARS police unit and that various state governments and the National Human Rights Commission had launched inquiries. He agreed that the Lagos panel’s report did not name IPOB as a participant or label the protests as terrorism. This report was submitted as evidence.

Justice James Omotosho instructed the prosecution to wrap up its case within six days and allocated nine days for the defence. The trial was adjourned to continue on May 28 and 29, and June 6, 16, 18, and 19.

FAITH MIMDOO KEGH

Manager – Oversees the daily operations, editorial planning, and strategic direction of the platform. A graduate with a solid academic foundation in media and communication, Faith brings a wealth of experience to the TokinPoint.

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