IPOB Accuses Nigerian Govt of Hiring Mercenary As Witness In Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has levelled serious allegations against the Nigerian government, accusing it of using a “mercenary” as a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB claimed that the witness, identified only as Prosecution Witness BBB (PW-BBB), is not a member of the Department of State Services (DSS), as purported by the prosecution.

“The latest disgraceful development is the presentation of an individual referred to as Prosecution Witness BBB—a man who does not work for the DSS and who has been exposed under cross-examination as a government-planted mercenary,” the group alleged.

IPOB stated that PW-BBB’s testimony lacked credibility and was riddled with inconsistencies and evasive responses during court proceedings.

“His courtroom performance—peppered with statements like ‘I don’t know’, ‘It’s not my job’, and ‘No one informed me’—reveals a witness wholly ignorant of the facts and unqualified to provide any reliable testimony,” the statement read.

The group further claimed that PW-BBB’s identity and statement were not included in the list of prosecution witnesses previously submitted to the defence, describing the move as “trial by ambush”.

“This last-minute substitution amounts to prosecutorial misconduct that should be rebuked and sanctioned,” IPOB stated.

“We call on the Honourable Justice James Omotosho to take judicial notice of this underhanded tactic and ensure such abuse of process is not permitted to taint the sanctity of the courtroom.”

IPOB also addressed the broader context of Kanu’s detention, reaffirming that he has been held under harsh and unlawful conditions since his extraordinary rendition from Kenya in 2021.

“Solitary confinement is a standard DSS operational protocol, and numerous independent reports have confirmed that our leader is being subjected to this inhumane condition,” the statement continued.

“UK consular staff who conduct periodic visits to Mazi Kanu are aware of this, and DSS internal records can corroborate it.”

The separatist movement expressed concern over what it described as an ongoing pattern of judicial manipulation and propaganda.

“The attempt to lend credibility to the lies of a coached stranger is not only a disservice to justice but also a profound insult to the Nigerian judiciary,” IPOB said.

“We urge media houses to resist becoming echo chambers for state propaganda. Upholding truth, objectivity, and constitutional principles is more urgent now than ever.”

The group concluded by reiterating its demand for Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release and called on the international community to hold the Nigerian government accountable for what it termed “systemic legal abuse”.

While the allegation has also emerged on social media, the Department of State Services and the Federal Ministry of Justice had responded to the accusation as of the time of this report.

IPOB Accuses Nigerian Govt of Hiring Mercenary As Witness In Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial is first published on The Whistler Newspaper