ABUJA – The Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted in evidence a radio transmitter allegedly smuggled into the country by the detained self acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice James Omotosho admitted the transmitter along with a 20-foot container in which it was allegedly brought into the country from London, without relevant Customs documentations.
Justice Omotosho on Friday admitted the container as Exhibit PWY and the radio transmitter as Exhibit PWZ during a brief proceeding conducted within the premises of the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.
The decision of the court to conduct the proceeding in the DSS headquarters was informed by an oral application by prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), who prayed the court to inspect the transmitter and container which was kept in the DSS facility.
Awomolo made the application midway into the testimony of the fourth prosecution witness, who among others, testified about how the transmitter and container were recovered in a premises in Ubuluisiuzor in Ihiala Local Government of Anambra State.
The prosecuting lawyer said it was impossible for the prosecution to bring the transmitter and the container to the court premises and urged the court to relocate to where they are kept for the purpose of sighting and for the prosecution to tender them.
Defence lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) did not object to Awomolo’s application which was subsequently granted by the judge.
Earlier in his testimony, the fourth prosecution witness, a DSS agent, told the court that he knew Kanu as the leader of IPOB, a group campaigning for the secession of the southeastern states, parts of the South-South as well as Benue and Kogi states from Nigeria to form a Biafra Republic.
He said Kanu utilised his Radio Biafra to propagate his messages and incite his followers to engage in violence and other terrorism activities.
The witness, who said he was among those who investigated the allegations against Kanu, told the court that sometimes in October 2015, his agency got intelligence that Kanu smuggled into the country an FM radio transmitter in a container.
He said the transmitter, which was concealed among household items in a container, was not declared to the Nigeria Customs and that it was to be used for Radio Biafra.
The witness said he later saw a video where the defendant (Kanu) and one of his associates, Benjamin Madubugu, were inspecting the transmitter, which they described as a game changer.
“After I watched the video, I was instructed to obtain a warrant, locate the transmitter and relocate it,” the witness said, adding that himself and others located the transmitter in the premises where Modubugu lived with his family and a brother named Francis and relocated it.
He said when the search warrant, obtained from a Chief Magistrates Court in Ihiala, Anambra State, was executed in the residence of Benjamin Madubugu at Ubuluisiuzor, they found the radio transmitter in a 20-feet container; two pump action guns (without licenses), laptop computers, some ammunition, small quantity of marijuana, among others.
“The transmitter was concealed with household items, including second hand clothes. When we asked Benjamin about the other items that we saw in the video, he said one Chimezie came to take them away.”
Awomolo subsequently tendered a video recording showing Kanu inspecting the container and its contents, including the transmitter.
The video showed Kanu being assisted by an individual and being recorded by another, opening the container, identified all its contents and explaining how the transmitter would be deployed.
The video also showed Kanu, with his hand on the transmitter, saying: “This is the monster itself. This is what will destroy enemies of Biafra…this is nuclear monster that will destroy the zoo.”
When asked what Kanu meant by “the zoo,” the witness said the defendant was referring to Nigeria.
The witness said Kanu inspected the container in Madubugu’s premises in Ubuluisiuzor in Ihiala, Anambra State.
He said after recovering the transmitter, they arrested Madubugu, who later made a statement, detailing how the container got to his premises.
The statement, written by Madubugu on November 3, 2015, was admitted in evidence by the court and later read by the witness.
In the statement, Madubugu admitted among others, that he agreed to house the container on the grounds that he will keep it (the container) after all the contents have been evacuated.
Madubugu said Kanu came to inspect that container and said it would be used to broadcast Radio Biafra activities.
He added that Kanu came to his house with Chimezie between March and April 2015 to make the video of the inspection of the container.
By Damilola Adeleke | June 13, 2025
Adeleke Damilola (ACTION) is a versatile content writer with expertise in news writing and a seasoned media professional and broadcast specialist. Currently serving as News Editor for DNews Info, Damilola is also the CEO of the ACTION brand, committed to shaping lives and establishing a legacy of excellence for present and future generations.
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