DSS Denies Involvement In Nnamdi Kanu’s Arrest In Kenya

The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied having anything to do with the arrest and return of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from Kenya in 2021.

The agency said it doesn’t carry out operations outside Nigeria.

This was revealed during the cross-examination of a DSS intelligence officer—identified only as “BBB”—who is a witness for the prosecution in Kanu’s ongoing trial.

Lawyer Paul Erokoro, representing the defence, asked the officer several questions about the DSS’s powers and activities.

In response, the witness clarified that the DSS operates under the Office of the National Security Adviser and does not take orders from politicians or the Attorney General.

When asked about how the agency gathers intelligence, he explained that the DSS uses a range of sources, including human contacts and social media, and that its officers are well-trained to obtain information as needed.

The witness confirmed that Kanu told him he was “kidnapped” from Kenya and brought back to Nigeria.

However, he firmly stated that the DSS has no authority to arrest anyone outside the country.

He also claimed that Nnamdi Kanu’s speeches, especially on Radio Biafra, were inflammatory and incited violence during events like the 2020 EndSARS protests.

The witness linked Kanu’s broadcasts to attacks such as the burning of a police station in Ebonyi State, a Lagos court, and a cargo shed at Lagos’ Murtala Mohammed Airport.

During the session, the defence lawyer asked for an adjournment, explaining that they planned to present a video as evidence and needed more time.

The court, meanwhile, accepted certified true copies of judgments from three previous fundamental rights lawsuits filed by Kanu in Abia, Enugu, and Umuahia.

Earlier in the day, the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, warned all parties—especially members of the defence team—against live-streaming court proceedings or posting sensitive documents online.

He specifically cautioned Aloy Ejimakor, a defence lawyer, for sharing court materials and misleading content on social media.

Lead defence counsel Kanu Agabi also raised concerns about the live streaming, referencing a letter from the lead prosecution lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo.

He called for a ban on mobile phones in the courtroom and accused Ejimakor of treating the case carelessly online.

Justice Omotosho emphasized that the court had granted a fast-tracked hearing to ensure fair treatment, especially since Kanu has been in detention for a long time.

He urged both sides to maintain professionalism and warned that misconduct could lead to disciplinary action, including possible disbarment.

The court then adjourned the case to Thursday, May 22, for the continuation of the cross-examination of the second prosecution witness.

KanyiDaily recalls that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja barred Nnamdi Kanu’s sister-in-law from attending court for the next three sessions.