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case between the federal government of Nigeria and the detained leader of the indigenous people of Bafrae nambi Kanu
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apparently took a new technical twist on Thursday after one of the lawyers of the detained Bafra leader Paul Ericoro San
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presented and played three videos which the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja later admitted in evidence the videos of
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former Nigeria chief of army staff retired general Theophilus Danjuma
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saying security operatives in the West Africa country specifically the armed
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forces are working together with the armed bandits to kill Nigerians stressing that if Nigerians depend on
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the armed forces to curb insecurity they will all die one by one also that of
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Governor Hope Wu Odinmer of Imho State saying politicians are behind killings in the state lastly and the most
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interesting video played at the court to counter the testimony or statement made by the DSS prosecutor witness over
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Nambdi Kanu led IPO founding eastern security network ESN allegedly created
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by group of youths in the southeastern geopolitical zone of Nigeria often referred to as Bafra land to fight in
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self-defense against fani armed bandits or terrorists that were advancing and killing people in the eastern states
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during the era of President President Muhammadu Buuhari was that of the director general of the department of
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state services DSS Adola Jay who is apparently the government chief
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complainer in the case and the DSSDG in the video recorded and published by Symphony News Media in February 2025
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narrated how youths of the Zar community in Katagum local government area and Tafawa Blewa community of Tfawa Blewa
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local government area in Bouchi state when the DSSDG was the state director of
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state security services SS resorted to self-help and killed all Boohh Haram
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terrorists that came to attack them without depending on the security operatives according to the DSSDG when
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Boohh Haram terrorists invaded Azare community they started shooting and killing people then the youths went
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after the Boohh Haram terrorists and killed all of them even when one of the Boohh Haram terrorists named Khaled
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climbed a tree and started firing gunshots from the tree towards the people who were on the lower ground the
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Azar people resisted and went after him and subsequently killed him although the
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federal government prosecution witness identified as BBB who is a DSS operative
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stated that the ESN is an illegal organization because there is no approval of government given to the
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people of Southeast to establish such a self-help group to defend their land against terrorists unlike a Motech
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security network in the southwest states that was approved and permitted by the government also claiming his boss the
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DSSDG in the video was asking communities to build the first line of defense by thus working with security
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operatives but a careful and detailed study of the DSSDG speech in the video
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shows that the FG witness BBB probably talked off points totally off key from
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the original intent and intention of Mr adola AJ the DSSDG teachings and advice
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in the video who had said the Azar community people acted in quick response to an emergency situation and the story
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line indicated that the people of Azar prepared themselves in advance likely purchasing and acquiring firearms
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equivalent to AK-47 riffles to be able to face and kill all the Booh Haram
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terrorists that invaded the community as narrated by the DSSDG and if true the
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DSSDG the chief complainer must also be ordered to appear before the court as a defender in the case to present a
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certified true copy of government approval given to Azare people to defend themselves or prove beyond reasonable
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doubts how the people of Azare community were able to kill merely with the bear
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hands all the booh haram terrorists that invaded their community with high precision weapons of mass destructions
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in addition the DSSDG in the video probably advocated for the need for all
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individuals in Nigeria to have a gun because he gave an example of a visit to
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the United States of America USA when his host in the US heard a police siren
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sound he quickly brought out his gun and said if the criminal chased after by the
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US police ran into his apartment he would use the gun to kill the criminal suspect and that not all the DSSDG in
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the video also recalled and referenced the words of Nigeria former head of state retired General Ibrahim Badamasi
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Babingida that if insecurity must end in Nigeria Nigerians must be ready to
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resort to self-help like the people of Azar community did details of the court
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proceedings on Thursday as reported by the news agency of Nigeria NAN and
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republished by Vanguard newspaper are presented verbatim below justice James Omatosho admitted the
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flash drive containing the three separate video recordings as exhibit PWP and a certificate of compliance as
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exhibit PWP1 in the ongoing terrorism trial of Kanu the leader of the prescribed indigenous people of Bafra
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IPOB the documents were admitted in evidence after Paul Ericoro San Council for Kanu
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tended them from the bar and were not opposed by the federal government's lawyer had boyager san the news agency
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of Nigeria Nan reports that the three video recordings were played in the open
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court and the FG's witness an operative of the DSS identified as BBB was
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cross-examined by Ericoro earlier the lawyer reminded the witness that during
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the cross- examination the previous day reference was made to remarks by Danjuma
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and the DSSDG and he responded in affirmative do you know your DG and if
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you see him will you recognize him eraoro asked yes I will my lord BBB
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responded and the lawyer sought the leave of the court for the video to be played in one of the videos the DSSDG
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was addressing a gathering of people where he suggested that communities should endeavor to create a first line
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of defense against bandits and other invaders in the video AJ cited examples
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of two communities Azar and Tafawa Blewa in Baoi state that were able to kill and
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dislodge Boohh Haram insurgents through collective effort when he was serving as state director the DG said it was
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practically impossible for security agencies to protect every society in the country the DSS boss was heard saying
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the practical approach to mobilizing people is to get everyone involved it is impossible for the security agencies to
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deploy to every part of the country what we need to do is to make communities set
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up first line of defense we have to allow some levels of armorament for the communities to rise and defend
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themselves first but under the guidance and approval of security agencies the
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time to start it is now when asked by Ericoro whether the DGDSS was not asking
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for communities to defend themselves the witness emphasized that the DG stressed that such communities must come for
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guidance and approval from security agencies in another video former defense
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minister General Danjuma was shown making a remark in an event danjuma was
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heard in the video saying members of the armed forces were not neutral in the ongoing killings across the country the
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ex-general said in the video "The peace in this state is under threat there is
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an attempt for ethnic cleansing in this state and all the riverine states of Nigeria we must resist it we must rise
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up the armed forces are not neutral they collude with armed bandits that killed Nigerians they facilitate their movement
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they cover them if you are depending on the armed forces to protect you you will
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all die one by one when asked by Ericoro who the speaker in the video was the
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witness confirmed that he was Danjuma ericoro then asked the witness if he heard Danjuma calling on people to
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defend themselves and that the security agencies were not neutral and BBB responded in affirmative bbb however
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rejected Ericoro's request to give his BBB's opinion on the implication of
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what Danjuma said i am not here to interpret his statement the maker of the
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video should be the one to interpret it himself he said when the lawyer asked
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him if he was aware DSS arrested Danjuma for making the statement the witness said I am not aware my organization
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arrested him the third video showed Governor Uodma complaining about the killings of some All Progressives
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Congress APC leaders in his state and blamed it on the politicians the
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governor said in the video wicked politicians are sponsoring the killings in Olu the APC leaders were killed but
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not one PDP leader has been killed or attacked for once i think the cup is now
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full and killings of innocent people must stop in IMHO uzodenma who said it
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occurred to him that the alleged killers were after APC members said government would come hard on him if they failed to
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refrain from such act when asked who the speaker was the witness said it was
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Governor Uodma eraoro then asked BBB whether Usuzimma's position did not
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contradict his claim in court that IPOB members were behind killings in Olu in Imho responding the witness said DSS
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position was informed by the outcome of their investigation bbb further said that while Uzodma
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failed to mention names of victims of the killings he referred to the DSS
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investigation was specific on the identity of those killed by suspected IPOB members who were enforcing the sit
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order directed by CANU our investigation revealed those who were killed by suspected IPOB members and we mentioned
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the names but the governor did not mention any name of people he said were killed the witness said BBB who was the
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second prosecution witness PW2 was also cross-examined by Echooro based on his
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earlier testimony when asked about the IPOB status the witness said he was
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aware that IPOB had been prescribed by an order of court and that Kanu had been a member of IPOB before and after its
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prescription on whether he knew what the NSA's protest was about the witness said it was about the call by some people for
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the police's special anti-robery squad SARS to be scrapped the witness also
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said he was aware that some states including Lagos and the National Human Rights Commission NHRC constituted
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commissions of inquiry to probe the NSE's protest and other related incidents when he was asked to read the
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heading of the report of the panel the witness said "Lagos state panel of judicial angry on restitution of victims
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of N's protest and other matters." The witness agreed with Ericoro that the
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report from the commission set up by Lagos State did not indicate IPOB and that it did not classify the protest as
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act of terrorism erico tended the report issued by the Lagos's Commission of
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Inquiry which the court admitted in evidence as exhibit PWO after it was not
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opposed by FG's lawyer Chief Adig Boyalo when he was asked if Kanu's
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international passport had ever been in DSS custody the witness said he had never seen the passport before when
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asked if he was aware Kanu had traveled to different countries before BBB said
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the IPOB leader told him he had traveled to many countries he said though he did
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not know if the name Bafra had been prescribed bbb said he was aware that
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IPOB had been prescribed the witness who admitted that the AGF letter was tended
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through him in court said he was aware of all the allegations against Kanu mentioned by the AF in the letter the
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witness disagreed with Ericoro that the letter did not serve any useful purpose
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he said he did not know if Kanu had been in detention for the past 5 years when
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asked if he had the report of the investigation on Kanu BBB responded in
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affirmative he however said that the report was not with him in court because
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the report belongs to the government the witness said his involvement in Kanu's matter was only the taking of his
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statement on the video when asked if there were any other persons as defendants in the charge against Kanu
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BBB said it was only Kanu he saw as sole defendant eraoro put the question to BBB
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that in the earlier video he watched there was no one bearing arms as members of ESN responding the witness said "In
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the video we watched I cannot say they carry arms or they did not carry arms."
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The witness further explained that the people might be carrying arms underneath them while responding to question during
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re-examination by FG's lawyer Chief Adig Boyalo San on whether the Eastern
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Security Network ESN set up by Kanu and Emotech established by Southwest states
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had the same features in their formation the witness said ESN was an illegal group unlike the emoteken the witness
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said emoteken was backed by laws passed by the various houses of assembly of the
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six southwest states while ESN had no law supporting its existence esn and
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emoteken are not the same i know that states in the southwest passed laws to legalize emoteken but ESN is not
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registered esn is illegal aoteken is recognized by law the witness said
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Justice Omatosho then discharged BBB from the witness box the judge before
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adjourning for the day gave the prosecution 6 days within which to call all its witnesses and conclude its case
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he said this would however depend on how fast the defense to conduct their
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cross-examination justice also indicated that the defense would be allocated 9
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days he reminded parties that accelerated hearing had been granted in the case so that the trial could be
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concluded within reasonable time in the interest of justice the judge following
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an agreement by lawyers to parties adjourned until May 28th and May 29th
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June 6th June 16th June 18th and June 19th for the prosecution to conduct its
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case we had reported that unknown witness brought by the federal government of Nigeria to federal high
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court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday over the case involving Bafra Republic agitator nami Kanu has testified before
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the court that the indigenous people of Bafrae IPOB leader was the founder of the eastern security network ESN and
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IPOB acclaimed vigilante security network established to fight against terrorists that were advancing from
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northern part of Nigeria and building camps in some parts of southeast states
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although the unknown witness who was fully masked and personal details kept secret introduced himself as a personnel
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of the department of state services the SS who was among the detectives that interrogated the detained IPOB leader
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but the IPOB leader Nandi Kanu in a swift reaction said the witness is unknown denying ever meeting such a
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person the defense lawyer raised a point of observation during cross-examination that the issue raised by the unknown
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witness has been deliberated and struck out by the previous judge we had reported that one of the witnesses
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called by the federal government of Nigeria to testify against the leader of the indigenous people of Bafra IPOB Nami
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Kanu over the alleged act of terrorism secretly gave his testimony on Tuesday
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before the federal high court sitting in Abuja with the coordinating lawyer to
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Nambdi Kanu barristister Aloy lawy saying the FG witness was only
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identified merely by initials and the person gave his testimony against Nambdi Kanu behind the screen following the
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application filed by the federal government lawyers as approved by the trial judge to keep the identities of
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the FG witnesses secret this a lawyer Jim Mccor tweeted while the court proceeding was ongoing that the federal
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government only has three senior advocates of Nigeria SAN that six have
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stood firmly behind the detained Bafra leader we have reported that justice James Omatosho the new judge that took
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over the case of the detained Bafra agitation leader Nami Kanu has accepted the apology tended by Nambdi Kanu
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through one of his lawyers Barrista Kanu Agabi a cross river state former senator
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in the Nigeria National Assembly and two-time attorney general of the federation and minister of justice under
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the then president Elusigon Novis over the detained Bafra leader's outburst or
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manner he protested sequel to his rejection of the former judge justice bintanyako when the case started aresh
17:48
on Friday with the new judge which Nami Kanu pleaded not guilty to the seven counts terrorism charges filed against
17:54
him by the federal government we had reported that the detained Bafra Republic agitation leader Nambi Kanu has
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not been released by the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN Justice Kadir Kakerin
18:08
Nigeria National Judicial Council NJC says in reaction to viral rumors that
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the indigenous people of Bafra IPOB leader has been set free by the CJN on
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the ground that Nigeria courts under her leadership have no jurisdiction over the freedom fighters case due to the way and
18:26
manner he was forcefully extradited from Kenya to Nigeria in 2021 we had reported that the detained
18:33
leader of the indigenous people of Bafrae IPOB Nambdi Kanu on Valentine's
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Day send a message to the lovers supporters of the Bafra Republic agitation and the general public that he
18:45
would remain in detention until impartial and unbiased judge take over the case of alleged terrorism filed
18:51
against him by the federal government of Nigeria narrating how the judiciary has been biased against him since years of
18:58
his detention we had reported that Justice Binton Yako of Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned
19:04
indefinitely after the detained leader of indigenous people of Bafrae IPOB Nami
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Kanu is seen in a privileged video footage during February 10th 2025 court
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session staged a resistance protest insisting while confronting the judge face toface including the prosecuting
19:23
council had boyo that justice binta who is an indigene of Katsina state same
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state with former president Muhammadu Buuhari is biased saying justice Nyako
19:35
who had held the political position of Katsina state attorney general and commissioner of justice that her court
19:41
is not a court of law but a shrine of injustice accusing the judge of pope nosing with authorities to pass wrong
19:48
judgment against him in order to be left off the hook by the federal government her son Abdul Aziz Yako and her husband
19:55
retired Vice Admiral Matalan Yako who was once chief of naval staff deputy
20:01
chief of defense staff pioneer former military governor of Niger state two times governor of Adamawa state who were
20:08
impeached twice by Adamawa State House of Assembly for misconduct one of the
20:13
soldiers that fought against BAFA during Nigeria Civil War a current member of
20:18
the ruling All Progressives Congress APC who is facing corruption charges
20:24
alongside his son in a criminal allegation filed before court of law since 2015 by the Economic and Financial
20:31
Crimes Commission EFCC over alleged cases of abuse of office criminal
20:36
conspiracy theft and money laundering we had October 2024 reported that the chief
20:43
judge of federal high court in Nigeria justice John Tmba Soho has rejected the
20:49
verbal plea by the detained indigenous people of Bafra IPOB leader Nami Kanu
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for the trial judge in the case justice Bintono to withdraw being the judge over the lawsuits justice Soho stated that
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Kanu's case was reassigned to Justice Nyako due to its prolonged nature dating
21:08
back to 2015 given that Justice Nyako had handled the case for the most part she
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was deemed the most suitable judge to see it through to its conclusion however
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the chief judge directed that if at the next hearing of the case Kanu still insists on recusing justice he must file
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a written motion with an stating all the grounds for requesting the recusal we
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had reported in September 2024 that Justice Binton Yako of Federal High Court sitting in Abuja have withdrawn
21:38
from the case of detained Bafra leader Nandi Kanu after the trial on the Bafra
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leader's personal confrontation with we had reported in May 2024 that in a rare
21:50
case in the history of legal proceedings in the world Nambdi Kanu the detained leader of the indigenous people of Bafra
21:57
IPOB helped himself at the federal high court sitting in Abu and played the role of a lawyer with full energy and vibrant
22:04
command of words with fearless loud voice defended himself with face-to-face confrontation with the trial judge
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justice bintanyako and the federal government prosecution council adi boyo kanu is being prosecuted by the
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federal government on a sevenount bordering on terrorism are not neutral to give time they
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collude they collude They collude
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he has advised himself with the armed bandits they kill people kill Nigerians like the
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CDS they facilitate their movements they cover them he said to us which is quite
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important if you are we should not make this depending on the armed forces to stop
22:55
the killings and that's why you will all die one by one the practical approach to
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mobilizing to cor in security I'll share experience with you
23:08
when I was in when I was direct state director in Bouchi
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most of you remember an incident in Azari Nigerians
23:20
a group of terrorists the boo had invaded
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they were shooting in an attempt to kidnap
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and the community chased them they killed some members of the
23:40
community but the committee members killed all of them
23:45
the last guy Khaled climbed onto a tree and was
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fired the community stood they were resilient and they killed Khalid they
23:57
facilitate their movement since that day there has not been one terrorist
24:03
attack in Naz as a matter of fact the former head of state general Ibraimosi Babanga
24:13
said and I quote "If we want to stop or c this terrorism we should
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emulate the Azari example."
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Tafala also happened to be a local government in Bouchi that was always in flames
24:33
and the people movement of and some part of where the saw was
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rose up on one occasion they knew their terrain better climb onto trees and mountains
24:50
and when the invaders came
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they did not only repel them they cease their weapons and since then you can attest to
25:03
it that you Sadly you hardly hear about again
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what I'm trying to say the practical approach to mobilizing people is that you have to get everyone
25:15
involved you do not expect the Nigerian army
25:21
police DSS to protect every Nigerian or every community it is not going to work
25:30
in the US if you visit someone in the
25:38
house you'll be shocked that when the guy here has a police he will just pull his drawer
25:45
bring out his gun and keep it so one of my O did that and I asked him
25:50
why are you putting gun here he say well if they chasing someone and he enters my house I shoot
25:56
him first to stop the killings and that is the layer we have to start thinking
26:01
about how can you create first line of
26:06
defense the military police and other security agents are to deal with the bigger ones the organized ones but it is
26:16
impossible for us to deploy to every community in the country it is unimaginable
26:23
by any security agencies that has that resources to do it so as we leave here
26:31
we all belong to one community or the other what we have to start experimenting
26:38
is how we can make the community to prepare
26:44
first if the first line of defense for general said it clearly and for me there
26:52
are three takeaways from his lecture by the way the general and I were guest speaker at
26:59
one program in our office so I not surprised that his derity he has
27:05
developed some sort of expertise What but three things for me he asks us a question
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what is our own culture our culture is
27:18
communal we do things together festival together
27:24
um ceremonies together wedding ceremony whatever so why can't we fight some
27:34
miscreants some shallads among us together the community should say you
27:42
cannot come here this is what a bala has done if you go to that community to
27:47
attack them you'll be sorry for yourself i challenge anybody to try it
27:53
and this is the way we have to do we have to allow some level of arament for
27:58
the communities and they can serve as the first line of defense
28:05
second take away from what the general said society approach whole society
28:11
approach is not the first time we are hearing but what I'm saying the way to do it is
28:18
when we live here those of us who are some influence the elites in society discuss
28:25
with your communities come to us get some sort of approval and guidance and
28:31
then we can stop discriminators [Music] You can imagine you call sector let's
28:38
say sector four or whatever sector of the army to come to this community if there's an attack
28:45
before they even arrive there if they attack another community what this is what we should take away
28:53
from here and lastly
28:58
he said something very instructive by the way I like uh
29:05
those man he knows who to give
29:11
time have you seen him around [Applause]
29:22
himself so don't run into trouble like the CDS okay so last thing he said to us
29:31
which is quite important is that we should not make this another
29:37
talk show and that's why this is my intervention
29:43
that security starts from you there's nothing that is new 18
29:49
whatever 1870 something I can't remember the French revolution in the street of Paris they were beheading people we've
29:56
had uh hijack of plane we will forget quickly we've had the wet tier syndrome
30:03
we had um so many there's no masini and whatever there will always be security
30:10
problem so when I people say this is security in Nigeria as long as human beings exist there will be security
30:15
problem the issue is the response we have to take that mentality
30:21
away what is that security agencies doing what who
30:27
Apart from a tree knows that they want to come and cut him and remain standing
30:34
only a tree we have to get the communities to rise and defend themsel first and the
30:42
time to start it is now when you move out from here you I do that every day i
30:49
come from a village in land state and I talk to my people i know the level of
30:57
arment they entitled to i know how they organize themsel in quarters we are four quarters i am using my expertise to
31:04
guide them who are native bringing you the news in a mortgage
