A federal high court in Abuja has dismissed the evidence the federal government attempted to present in the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The government, through its third witness, a Department of State Services (DSS) officer, tried to introduce video and documentary materials, which included the alleged confessions of the defendant.

But Kanu’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro, challenged the admissibility of the materials, arguing that the statements were obtained through coercion.

On Wednesday, the court had ordered a trial-within-a-trial to determine whether the statements were made voluntarily or under pressure.

Delivering his decision on Thursday, the presiding judge, James Omotosho, stated that although Kanu did not prove that the statements were made under duress and the video showed no coercion, the court could not ignore Kanu’s repeated claims of being questioned without his lawyer present.

He noted that the supreme court had previously held that a lawyer must be present when a suspect is giving an extrajudicial statement.

The judge emphasized that security agencies are required to follow the law, which mandates a lawyer’s presence for the defendant, as this is tied to every Nigerian’s fundamental rights.

Omotosho ruled that due to this failure by the prosecution, the statements could not be accepted as evidence.

He said the objection raised by the defense was valid, and the statements dated October 23, 2015, and November 2015, which had earlier been admitted, were now rejected.

FG TENDERS FRESH EVIDENCE

Following the ruling, the third prosecution witness returned to continue giving his main testimony.

The witness, CCC, identified a compact disc titled “Interview with Sahara TV” while being questioned by the prosecuting counsel, Suraj Saida.

The court accepted the disc as evidence and it was subsequently played.

In the footage, Kanu was seen describing Nigeria as a “zoo,” making accusations against several prominent Igbo personalities and threatening retribution.

He alleged that Ike Nwachukwu, a former foreign affairs minister, was responsible for the deaths of Igbos.

He also claimed that Jim Nwobodo, a former governor of Anambra, betrayed Alex Ekweme, another Igbo leader.

Kanu went on to accuse Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, of murdering Igbos and disposing of their bodies in a river.

The IPOB leader further alleged that Rochas Okorocha, ex-governor of Imo, had Islamised the state by himself.

The video also captured Kanu making threats of violence if the goal of Biafra independence was not achieved.

He said that if Biafra wasn’t granted, the devastation in Nigeria, which he again referred to as a zoo, would surpass that of Somalia.

“If they do not give us Biafra, there will be nothing living in the zoo; nothing will survive there,” he said in the clip.

“I do not see Biafra happening peacefully. There is no freedom out of a peaceful process.”

Kanu expressed support for the attack on Enugu state’s government house, stating he would back any action aimed at toppling the current corrupt system.

During cross-examination by Erokoro, the witness admitted that he did not verify the truth of the allegations Kanu made against the listed Igbo figures.

He said his job was simply to confirm whether Kanu gave the interview, which the defendant acknowledged.

The witness also said he had no knowledge of whether Kanu had later withdrawn any of the statements made in the video.

The judge postponed the trial to continue on June 13, 16, 17, 18, and 19.

KANU’S SISTER-IN-LAW BARRED FROM TRIAL

The judge also ruled that Favour Kanu, the sister-in-law of the defendant, is prohibited from attending any future court sessions.

He asked her if she was the person responsible for unlawfully livestreaming the proceedings on social media, and she admitted she was.

Despite having been warned three times to stop, Omotosho ordered her out of the courtroom and said she must not return unless she had a case to attend.

He warned that from now on, those who violate court rules would be sent to Kuje prison for contempt.

Security operatives have apprehended 20 individuals for allegedly “hacking” into the computer-based 2025 unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME), which was conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

According to Channels Television, operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) made these arrests in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The report indicated that the suspects are part of a larger syndicate believed to comprise over 100 individuals. This group specializes in “hacking” the computer servers of examination bodies such as JAMB and the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Channels Television, citing security sources, added that the suspects have “confessed to sabotaging the examination” to discredit JAMB. Their goal was also to deter students from using CBT (computer-based test) for future examinations administered by NECO and the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

The suspects reportedly charged “special candidates” between N700,000 and N2 million to obtain high scores in the UTME. They used private schools and colleges as their operational bases.

Recall that the conduct of this year’s UTME, which began nationwide in April, was marked by numerous complaints from candidates.

Many candidates reported that they were unable to sit for the exam because they were assigned to “far-flung centers.”

When JAMB released the UTME results on May 9, a breakdown revealed that over 78 percent of candidates scored less than 200 marks out of a possible 400.

This led to protests that raised questions about the overall “integrity of the examination process.”

During a press conference on May 14, Ishaq Oloyede, the JAMB registrar, admitted to a “technical error” that compromised the integrity of results in 157 centers nationwide.

Oloyede stated that the results of 379,997 candidates were affected by this technical error.

The JAMB registrar further explained that the board discovered discrepancies linked to “faulty server updates” in its Lagos and South-East zones. This issue prevented the successful uploading of candidates’ responses during the first three days of the examination.

The examination body has since conducted a re-sit examination for the affected candidates.

The camps of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, along with former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and other political leaders, have agreed to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the primary coalition party. This coalition aims to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Multiple sources close to Atiku, the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, and the ongoing coalition efforts, who spoke anonymously, stated that during a Tuesday night meeting, the camps of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi agreed to adopt the ADC as the main coalition platform.

These sources added that steps are already underway to restructure and strengthen the party. Official announcements regarding related issues are anticipated in the coming days.

Confirming the meeting, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai stated at an event on Wednesday that coalition leaders convened at 8 pm on Tuesday. The purpose was to finalize key decisions aimed at ensuring President Bola Tinubu is unseated and “returns to Lagos in 2027.”

Ralph Nwosu, the ADC National Chairman, exclusively confirmed to our correspondent that the party is currently engaged in coalition discussions. These talks involve Atiku, Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and other political figures.

However, in an interview (with The Punch), the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, described President Tinubu as the true father of all coalitions, adding that Atiku, Obi, and other coalition leaders are destined to lose the 2027 election.

On March 20, Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, and other political leaders in Abuja revealed the formation of a coalition designed to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 election.

The announcement ignited significant debate regarding the potential for opposition unity, with political stakeholders offering differing views.

Earlier reports on Monday had it that Obi is consulting with his loyalists to decide whether to accept Atiku’s offer of the Vice President position, as both consider the ADC as their coalition platform.

The source revealed that they have decided to adopt the ADC as the main coalition platform and are determined to invest their resources in restructuring the party.

He stated, “The coalition leaders from the camps of Obi and Atiku met last night in Abuja to review all the issues and the major parties. After their discussions, they agreed that the ADC should be the main coalition platform.

“Although some of the leaders, like El-Rufai and others, are already in the Social Democratic Party, they agreed that once ADC is announced in the coming days as the primary coalition platform, they will devise a strategy for an alliance between ADC, SDP, and other platforms.

“I am aware that resources have already been allocated to restructure the ADC, and there are plans to change the National Leadership and Board of Trustees of the party. These changes will be announced in the coming days.

“However, they have chosen the party as the primary coalition platform for coalition patriots. Their loyalists have been notified and are preparing to join the party and help overhaul it.”

Another source disclosed that the coalition leaders agreed to ensure a level playing field for everyone, regardless of their geopolitical zone of origin.

He said, “The camps met last night and agreed to adopt the ADC as their platform. Although the proposal for a single-term presidency and a vice-presidential slot is still being considered, no final decision has been made.

“As a result, they resolved that the coalition efforts within the ADC will ensure a level playing field for all participants, especially Presidential aspirants, regardless of their geopolitical background.”

El-Rufai, who confirmed the meeting, stated that the coalition’s objective is to defeat President Tinubu and ensure his return to Lagos in 2027.

In a video posted on X account @AbdulRasheeth and obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, the former Kaduna State Governor added that details of the meeting will be made public in the coming days.

El-Rufai, who clearly was describing the difficulties he faced before managing to attend the Katsina event, stated, “Yesterday at 8 p.m., there was a very important meeting of the coalition we are building to ensure that President Tinubu returns to Lagos.

“Although we will provide more updates later, I had to attend that meeting at 8 p.m.”

When reached for comment, the ADC National Chairman said he was not aware of the meeting held yesterday but confirmed that party chieftains assigned to the task have been participating in discussions with other coalition leaders.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH Nwosu revealed that the ADC has been engaged in talks with Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and others, expressing confidence that if they all join forces, they can successfully rescue Nigeria.

ADC National Chairman stated, “I am aware of the meeting that ADC chieftains are attending with some coalition leaders. ADC has been involved in various coalition discussions for many years—not just ahead of this election.

“But for this election, we are talking with political parties, patriots, and other stakeholders. Whatever the outcome of our discussions, the public will be informed, not in months, but in a matter of days.

“As National Chairman, we set up a committee for this purpose. Our committees are engaging with all patriots interested in rescuing this country. I can confirm that we’re not only speaking to Atiku. We are also engaging Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and many others.

“We are in discussions with political party leaders and committed patriots. We believe that if all of them work together, we can deliver this country.”

In response to a question about whether Atiku, Obi, and other coalition leaders want him and the Board of Trustees Chairman, Mani Ibrahim, to step aside for the restructuring of the ADC, Nwosu dismissed the claim as speculation.

However, he emphasised that they are willing to make any necessary sacrifices to help rescue Nigeria.

“That is speculation. But, I assure you, we are fully committed to national rescue and ready to make all necessary sacrifices, including myself. Whatever sacrifices are required to move this country forward, we are willing to make them.

“This national rescue conversation isn’t limited to just one or two parties. It’s happening across parties, civil society organisations, and other key groups.

“ADC is ready to contribute whatever is necessary to make this happen. We’ve built the party for a rescue movement.”

When reached for comment, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, and Obi’s loyalists, the National Secretary of Colaition for United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh, claimed to be unaware of 1the meeting but reaffirmed that both leaders are committed to ensuring the success of the arrangement.

Ibe in an interview (with The Punch) stated that various political parties and leaders are participating in the coalition effort.

He said, “I am not aware of that, to be very honest with you. I can’t speak to what I don’t know. What I do know is that we are in talks with patriots and political parties for Nigeria’s rescue.

“His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, has said that all party stakeholders and leaders are part of this coalition, and we have to take his word for it, meaning there are no exceptions. There has been no definitive decision yet.

“So, as for the political platform, we’re moving forward, and soon the public will be informed. These coalition efforts are a pan-Nigerian movement. It’s about reclaiming and rebuilding the country, and everyone who believes in that will find accommodation.

“That’s where we are. This coalition is committed to delivering on the mandate to rebuild Nigeria.”

On his part, Ameh stated that Obi and his supporters remain members of the Labour Party.

“I am aware the coalition drive is ongoing. But, I do not have such information about yesterday’s meeting at my disposal.

“As I told you, Mr. Peter Obi, I, and the rest of our team are committed to the Labour Party. We are members of the Labour Party, and we are here to promote and advocate for the views of the Labour Party.”

When reached for comment, CUPP National Publicity Secretary Mark Adebayo stated that Nigerians will be informed shortly about the progress of the coalition efforts.

In an interview (with The Punch), Adebayo emphasized that Atiku, Obi, and other coalition leaders are committed to rescuing Nigeria from the failed APC administration under President Tinubu.

He stated, “What I can tell you is that discussions are ongoing and are at their peak as we speak. Soon, Nigerians will be informed about everything, including the platform.

“The coalition leaders and stakeholders are not going to be distracted. In fact, they are focused and determined to work in unison to rescue Nigeria from the failed APC government under President Tinubu.

“Any information you need regarding the coalition movement will be made public soon. We know Nigerians are tired of the APC and eager to hear from us, but I assure you we will brief the nation shortly.”

In a related development, one of the Colaition leaders, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal disclosed that those advocating for a strong opposition coalition have deemed the PDP off-limits.

The former SGF revealed that the politicians backing the opposition coalition would soon unveil their new platform to alleviate the concerns of Nigerians anxious about the coalition’s political party.

Babachir shared this during his appearance on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Wednesday.

He stated that the coalition is primarily led by politicians who have come together to oppose the ruling party.

When questioned about the absence of the PDP in the coalition discussions led by Atiku, Babachir explained that the PDP suffers from an “incurable virus.”

“In all the meetings I’ve attended so far, nobody has ever bothered about adopting the PDP as the platform. We all agree that PDP has an incurable virus. No anti-biotics can cure what is ailing the PDP and we don’t want to go into a house that we cannot modify that is not willing to change,” he said.

He also disclosed that Atiku and other coalition leaders are committed to defeating President Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Regarding Atiku and others’ efforts to form a coalition to challenge President Tinubu, Basiru dismissed the coalition and referred to Tinubu as a master of coalition-building.

The APC National Secretary in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, stated that the former Vice President, along with other opposition leaders, would once again lose in 2027 because their coalition is not driven by the best interests of Nigerians.

He stated, “They are not forming any coalition, and if they are, President Tinubu is the grandmaster of coalitions. He is a chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition, which was the mother of coalitions that helped remove the military from power.

“So, how can they use a coalition to challenge the grandmaster of coalitions? Our party is also well-versed in forming alliances.

“We were the first party to form a congress made up of major political parties. Nigerians should be aware that the lies they told about winning the 2023 election are now coming to light.”

Basiru, who advised Atiku, Obi, and others to return to their respective parties, predicted that the coalition leaders would face defeat in the 2027 election.

APC National Secretary stated, “If indeed they believe they won the 2023 election, why are they talking about a coalition for 2027? They should just go back to their political parties.

“But the truth is that they lost the 2023 election, and by the grace of Almighty God, they will lose the 2027 election as well, President Tinubu of the APC will win.

“This so-called arrangement or coalition is not driven by love for Nigeria but by inordinate ambition and a sense of entitlement.”

Credit: The Punch