A Department of Statement Services (DSS) witness on Wednesday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that between 170 and 200 security agents have died due to the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South Eastern Nigeria.
By Taiye Agbaje
A Department of Statement Services (DSS) witness on Wednesday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that between 170 and 200 security agents have died due to the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South Eastern Nigeria.
NAIJAONPOINT , simply identifed as DDD for security reasons, disclosed this before Justice James Omotosho in continuation of his testimony in the ongoing terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the IPOB.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that DDD was led in evidence by the Federal Government’s lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.
DDD, who is the 4th prosecution witness (PW-4), said the activities of IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), had led to the death of many security personnel in the region.
He restated that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) did not issue license to Kanu to import the radio transmitter he allegedly smuggled into the country to operate Radio Biafra.
He said shortly after he and members of his team recovered the transmitter from a premises in Ubuluisiuzor, Anambra, and brought it to Abuja, the DSS wrote the NBC to inspect it.
NAIJAONPOINT told the court that on Nov. 9, 2015, the NBC sent an engineer, who inspected the transmitter and wrote a report.
Awomolo then tendered a certified true copy of the provisional assessment of radio transmitter report submitted by the NBC.
DDD was asked to read a portion of the report, which he did.
He said the report indicated that the transmitter was a German made and that it was indeed a radio transmitter made for use on FM frequency.
NAIJAONPOINT said the report also stated that such transmitter could only be procured and installed after being issued a licence and that the NBC had not licensed Radio Biafra to broadcast in Nigeria.
The PW-4 added that investigation by his team revealed that for one to operate a radio station in the country, one must apply to a regulator, who would issue a licence after due clearance by relevant security agencies.
“In this case, there was no application from the defendant. He brought in the transmitter illegally without approval,” he said.
He also said investigation was confirmed that the defendant was the owner of the transmitter, which he kept in the premises of one Benjamin Madubugu.