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How Kanu’s Broadcast Led To Murder Of Jonathan’s Ex-aide — Witness

Published

5 months ago

May 9, 2025

A witness in the on-going trial of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday, alleged that a media broadcast by the defendant was responsible for the killing of a former presidential aide, Mr Ahmed Gulak.

The witness, who is an operative of the Department of State Services, DSS, alleged that Gulak, who served ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was murdered in Imo State on May 30, 2021, after Kanu, in a broadcast, ordered his followers to deal with anyone violating his sit-at-home directive.

Testifying before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the witness, who was codenamed PW- BBB, insisted that the broadcast incited violence and wanton killings in the South East region of the country.

Led in evidence by government lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, the witness who testified inside a protective screen, said he participated in many investigations concerning Kanu.

He told the court that Kanu had in a recorded interview session with the DSS, admitted that he was the founder of IPOB, its armed wing- Eastern Security Network, ESN- as well as Radio Biafra, which he said operated illegally as it was not licensed in Nigeria.

He insisted that the defendant, through his broadcasts, made inflammatory statements that incited his followers to attack police officers and government facilities.

“One of the Lagos High Courts was burnt, buses belonging to the Lagos State government were also burnt.

“We established that his orders were carried out.

“We were also able to establish that he did not only call for the killing of police and army, but also that they should be beheaded. And a police officer was killed and beheaded.

“The broadcasts were many and he (Kanu) confirmed that the broadcasts were his,” the witness added.

He told the court that the agitation for Biafra Republic, led by Kanu, was for the secession of states in the South East, South South, parts of Benue and Kogi state, from Nigeria.

According to him, Kanu called for the “establishment of Biafra by any means possible, including war.”

However, in the video that was played in the open court on Thursday, Kanu, denied responsibility for the alleged acts of violence, insisting his agitation was non-violent.

Kanu further asserted that the IPOB “cannot be involved in any criminality,” saying it was not true that his broadcasts led to killings in Lagos during the EndSARS protests.

Besides, Kanu argued that Lagos is not within the Biafran territory, adding that he established the IPOB to further the interest of the South East region.

In the said video, the embattled IPOB leader accused the Nigerian Army of invading his house and killing about 20 people.

He affirmed that he was in May 2017, charged to court by FG.

“I was in court and I was granted bail. I was in my house and the Nigerian Army came to kill me. I was at a loss. There was actually no need for it. There was no violence.

“What made the Army invade my house to kill me, and they ended up killing 28 people,” he queried.

“How have you been the one leading your organization, IPOB?” the interviewer asked Kanu in the video.

Responding, the defendant, said: “I have been leading them by talking about things that pertain to Biafran agitation and the laws of Nigeria, which include self-determination.”

Asked if he was aware of loss of property and violence during the EndSARS protest due to some of his broadcasts.

Kanu, replied: “It is not true,” even as he refuted claim that between December 2020 and 2021, many atrocities committed in the South East were linked to the IPOB.

Describin the IPOB as a peaceful group, Kanu, said he had no idea what happened to the police and correctional centres in the South East.

He said he did not call for resistance when his parents died, alleging he was not arrested but kidnapped by security agents.

Meanwhile, a member of Kanu’s defence team, Mr. Paul Erokoro, SAN, challenged the admissibility of the video.

He persuaded the court to adjourn the matter to enable his team to consult further.

Following agreement by lawyers in the matter, Justice Omotosho adjourned further hearing on the case till May 14, 21 and 22.

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NiMet Predicts Three-day Rain, Thunderstorms From Monday

Published

21 hours ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

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JUST IN: Ooni Visits Olubadan-designate Ladoja In Ibadan

Published

1 day ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Sunday, paid a visit to the Olubadan designate, Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The PUNCH reports that Oba Ladoja will be installed as the 44th Olubadan on Friday, September 26, 2025, following the demise of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who joined his ancestors on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90 years.

The two paramount rulers are currently exchanging pleasantries.

Details later…

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JUST IN: FG Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licenses Over Unpaid Fees

Published

1 day ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has announced a fresh revocation of not less than 1,263 mineral licenses.

These licenses, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.

The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the revocation announcement in a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.

The minister explained that the directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with the requirement of paying their annual service fees.

The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794 including,619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.

By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities.

The statement read, “Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.

“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”

Approving the revocation following the recommendation of the MCO, the Minister said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.

“The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder, while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites, is over.

“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.

He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.

“This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”

In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.

He informed the minister that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise licencees and encourage them to comply within 30 days in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.

He observed that the delay in the final recommendation was due to complaints of several licensees who claimed to have paid to the Federal Government through Remita and had to be reconciled.

Earlier this month, the DG MCO had hinted that more mining licences would be revoked as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector and protect investors from fraudsters.

According to Nkom, the clean-up exercise, which covers expired, speculative, and inactive titles, is necessary to make room for genuine investors and ensure compliance with the law.

This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration, and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.