There are attempts to abduct Nnamdi Kanu – DSS

Biafra: DSS says there are plans to abduct Nnamdi Kanu

* The Department of State Services alleged that there are plans by some agitators to abduct Nnamdi Kanu

* A defense counsel also alleged threats to his life by operatives of the Department of State Services

* The DSS said witnesses have also refused to testify for fear of their lives
The Department of State Services (DSS) has said that there are plans to abduct the directorof the Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Nnamdi Kanu during one of his appearances in court recently

At a court sitting today, March 7, the prosecuting counsel Mohammed Diri told the court that he had received information from the DSS personnel that some agitators aim to abduct the accused.

Diri said the information, contained in a piece of paper which he showed the judge, said that some of the agitators had an altercation with DSS officials at the court premises.

Although they are ready to come and testify in this case, they have said unless their identity is shielded they cannot come to testify in this matter.

Diri told the court that witnesses are afraid for their lives and said that they are already receiving threats to their lives.

“They asked that I should inform this honourable court that they love their lives more,”Diri said.

The prosecution said the witnesses requested that their identities be shielded from members of the public who might want to watch trial proceedings.

But replying to the information tendered by Diri, the defense counsel, Chuks Muoma asked the court to grant a member of his team,  Ifeanyii Ejiofor, leave to explain what transpired between the DSS and Kanu’s family members this morning.

Without an objection from the prosecution on this request, Ejiofor told the court that some relatives of the first defendant had approached the court but were denied entrance by security officials.

Ejiofor said it was at this point when he noticed the altercation and tried to intercede between the parties that one of the DSS officials threatened to kill him.

He also urged the court to put it on record that he has been threatened by the DSS officials in the court.

To this, Diri asked that Moses Idakwo, a prosecuting counsel who had been earlier granted leave by the court be called on to give an account of the incident.

But Muoma in his objection said it would not be right to call on Idakwo as he was not an eyewitness to the incident.

Muoma rather asked that the official who brought the written information be placed in the witness box for examination.

He also said his team member Ejiofor would be disrobed to also testify on the threat.

“This is the first time that I am hearing that a lawyer is being threatened in the court premises,” Muoma said.

The judge after listening said: “If everyone is afraid and being threatened then I think we have to call on celestial being to handle this matter.”

Tsoho said Idakwo’s reply on the matter is immaterial. He said the parties will have to make up their minds whether they want the trial to continue or not, and that the threat to a lawyer’s life cannot be taken lightly.

The judge further stood down the matter for 30 minutes.

He also ruled that Muoma will be expected to reply on the issue of witnesses raised by the prosecution on resumption of the hearing.

Kanu is being charged with felony, the illegal possession of firearms and assisting in the maintenance of an unlawful society alongside two others, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.

Meanwhile,  Kanu has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court.

In the case between Kanu and the Nigerian government dated March 3, 2016, the Radio Biafra director is suing for the violation of his rights and those of his colleagues and supporters.