The Department of State Services (DSS) has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that it was not involved in the 2021 arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in Kenya.
The claim came during a court session on Wednesday, where a prosecution witness, identified only by the code name BBB, explained the limits of the agency’s authority.
The statement was made during the cross-examination of the witness, who works with the DSS.
The court was told that the security agency operates strictly within Nigeria and does not have powers to arrest people outside the country.
The witness explained that the DSS cannot carry out operations beyond Nigerian borders, directly responding to past claims that Kanu was abducted from Kenya with the help of the DSS.
Kanu had earlier said he was taken by force from Kenya and returned to Nigeria without legal process.
This has continued to draw public attention and legal questions around the role of Nigerian authorities in his arrest. But the DSS insists it had no role to play in that event.
The witness also spoke on how the DSS works.
He said the agency is under the office of the National Security Adviser and is not controlled by politicians or ministers.
He added that the Attorney General does not give the DSS orders on how to carry out its duties.
In his testimony, the witness also said that the DSS gathers information from different sources like social media, people in communities, and other channels.
He added that their officers are trained to collect useful information and take needed actions.
The DSS officer claimed that Kanu’s broadcasts on Radio Biafra stirred up trouble and supported the use of violence.
He linked his messages to some violent events, such as the burning of a police station in Ebonyi, the Lagos State High Court, and a cargo shed at the Lagos airport.
According to the witness, Kanu had stated that he would achieve Biafra through any means, even by force.
During the hearing, Kanu’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro, asked the judge for time to submit a video clip as part of the evidence.
The court agreed and also accepted certified true copies of earlier court judgments that Nnamdi Kanu had won.
These rulings came from the Abia State High Court, the Federal High Court in Umuahia, and the High Court of Enugu State.
The day began with the judge, Justice James Omotosho, warning lawyers to stop using social media in ways that could affect the trial.
He especially called out one of the defence lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor, for putting out wrong information online.
Lead defence counsel, Kanu Agabi, also asked the court to ban phones in the courtroom, complaining that the trial was being streamed live without permission.
Justice Omotosho reminded everyone that the case is serious and must be handled with care.
He warned that if the behaviour of some lawyers did not improve, they could face punishment, including the risk of losing their licence to practise law.
He ended the session by stressing that the hearing must move faster, especially because Kanu has been in detention for a long time.
The court adjourned the case until Thursday, May 22, for the continuation of the witness’s cross-examination.
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