The Department of State Services has given details of how its men apprehended the leader of a group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and operator of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The DSS said, but for the tenacity of its men, Kanu who, it said, lodged in a hotel in Lagos using fictitious name, would have escaped arrest.
It also explained how arms and ammunition were recovered in the home of one of Kanu’s associates – Benjamin Madubugwu – at Ubulusiuzor town, in Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The information are contained in a bundle of court documents filed along with a fresh six-count charge recently filed against Kanu, Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
A DSS operative, Temisan John, who led a team that arrested Kanu on October 14, 2015 at the Golden Tulip Essential Lagos Airport Hotel in Lagos said Kanu was apprehended in the company of a woman.
” On arrival at the hotel, the staff denied having Kanu in the hotel or having any knowledge of him even when shown his photograph. The hotel’s guest manifest for about five days were also printed and the name was not found on any.
“However, relying on accurate intelligence, the team decided to conduct a physical search on all the hotel rooms, leading to the arrest of Kanu in Room 303, where he was caught hibernating with a young girl named Maryam Ibezimakor, with all his broadcasting and communication gadgets set for use.
“It was then discovered that Kanu checked in under the name Nwanekaenyi Ezebuiro. He was subsequently arrested and taken to the command headquarters.”
Another DSS operative, who led the search of Madubugwu’s house, Mohammed Ahmed, said items recovered in the house located at Ubulusiuzor, Ihiala LG, Anambra State included “two pump action guns loaded with
He described them as ” one Emerald Pump Action gun, serial number: TS870-113-0046″ and “one Delta Magnum Pump Action gun s/no: 501.”
Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi (identified as a Field Maintenance Engineer with MTN Nigeria Limited were to be arraigned on December 23, but Kanu stalled the proceedings when he told Justice Ahmed Mohammed, before who they were to be arraigned, that he doubted the judge’s ability to ensure fair trial in the case, prompting Justice Mohammed to withdraw from the case.
The judge, who was not averse to Kanu’s position, later directed the return of the case file to the court’s Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.
