IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu appeared in court on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, for ongoing proceedings where he challenged the admissibility of statements allegedly made to the Department of State Services (DSS), claiming they were obtained under duress.

During the session, the prosecution introduced their third witness, a DSS operative who claimed to have interviewed Kanu in 2015. The witness testified that Kanu is "the leader and founder of IPOB, a terrorist organization" and that he used Radio Biafra to "preach violence to the public."

The prosecution presented video interviews and written statements allegedly made by Kanu in October 2015, which were admitted as evidence. However, Kanu, through his legal team, immediately contested their admissibility, asserting they were obtained through coercion.

Claims of Duress and Denial of Legal Representation

Kanu told the court he was forced to write statements against his will while bleeding from his nose. According to his testimony, he was detained in what he described as a "dungeon" and threatened by a DSS officer identified as "Mr. Brown" that his one hour of daily airtime would be revoked if he didn't comply with their demands.

The IPOB leader further alleged that he was transported from Lagos to Abuja blindfolded and in chains in 2015, and was repeatedly denied access to legal representation despite multiple requests.

"I was repeatedly denied lawyers even when I asked repeatedly, and at no point was a lawyer brought to me until I was transferred to Kuje in 2015," Kanu testified.

Video Evidence and Trial Within Trial

The court reviewed video recordings of Kanu's interviews with DSS officers. In one recording, Kanu could be heard saying: "You people are the custodians of the law yet you are the ones breaking the law. This is the third time I am making statements without my lawyer."

After viewing the videos, the judge noted: "I heard Mazi Nnamdi Kanu mentioning repeatedly that his lawyer wasn't there, that he needed to speak with his lawyer. So I will look into that alongside the involuntariness."

The judge ordered a trial within trial to determine whether Kanu's statements were made voluntarily or under duress.

Cross-Examination Reveals Contradictions

During cross-examination by Kanu's defense team led by Paul Erokoro SAN, the DSS witness was questioned about underground detention cells, which he denied knowledge of. The defense also highlighted that Kanu wore the same shirt throughout multiple days of interviews and appeared unusually excited when offered water.

When questioned directly, Kanu testified that he had been held in DSS custody for six years and described how he was allegedly tortured. He also claimed the videos presented in court were "heavily edited, removing the parts where the DSS officers who interviewed him were threatening him."

The prosecution maintained that Kanu's allegations were false, arguing that he gave his statements willingly and was not under any form of duress.

The court adjourned proceedings until May 29, 2025, at 12 noon, when the trial within trial is expected to continue.