A Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted into evidence a report by the Department of State Services (DSS) that allegedly links the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to the killing of 186 police officers and the destruction of 164 police stations during the #EndSARS protests.
Justice James Omotoso allowed the report during the resumed terrorism trial of Kanu on Thursday.
The report was submitted by the prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), through the fifth prosecution witness, identified only as Mr. EEE for security reasons.
Mr. EEE, a DSS operative, testified that he was part of a team assigned to the South-East and other regions to collect information and prepare reports on the violence linked to the #EndSARS movement.
“I know the defendant from the media; I have never met him in person,” the witness said.
He explained that his role was to document the destruction of public property and the deaths of security personnel, which he said were incited by statements made by Kanu.
The court admitted several exhibits through the witness, including a damage assessment report, death certificates of some security officers, and a certificate of compliance.
Although the defense counsel objected to the admission of these documents, the court reserved arguments on the matter for a later date.
According to the witness, the unrest resulted in the deaths of 186 police officers, 37 military personnel, and 10 DSS operatives. He further stated that 164 police stations and nine facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were destroyed across 17 states, including Lagos, Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, and Rivers, allegedly as a result of Kanu’s inflammatory messages.
During cross-examination, defense counsel Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) questioned the credibility of the report and the evidence linking Kanu to the violence.
