On Wednesday, May 7, a second prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), testified in the Federal High Court in Abuja, saying that Kanu confirmed he made a broadcast calling for the killings of President Bola Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The witness, who spoke in court while being questioned by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the lead government lawyer, said Kanu made the confirmation during a session on July 17, 2021, when his official statement was being taken.
The witness also presented seven video recordings of Kanu’s broadcasts, all saved on a flash drive. The court accepted the videos as evidence, and they were played in open court.
In one of the most serious clips—recorded on December 12, 2020—Kanu said that like the Amotekun Corps in the South West and the Miyetti Allah group, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) was created to protect the South East.
But towards the end of that broadcast, he made alarming statements. He accused Wike of offering a ₦50 million bounty for the head of a Biafran, and in response, Kanu told his followers to kill Wike, saying:
“Wike does not deserve to live. He deserves to die.”
He warned other governors that if they harm Biafrans, they would suffer the same fate.
Another clip from October 20, 2020, during the #EndSARS protest, showed Kanu calling on his followers to:
“Cause mayhem in Lagos… Kill Tinubu… Burn down Tinubu’s hotel… Tinubu should not be allowed to escape.”
He also encouraged the killing of police officers and other security personnel, according to the witness.
A third video had the most startling claim—Kanu allegedly placed a ₦100 million bounty on Wike, saying:
“₦100m for anyone who can take Wike down. Dead or alive, Wike is ₦100m. I will pay cash.”
The prosecution claims these broadcasts are part of why terrorism charges were brought against Kanu. The case has drawn national attention, with each court session revealing new evidence.
The trial is set to continue as more recordings and testimonies are expected.
