Court Hears ESN is Illegal Unlike Amotekun in Nnamdi Kanu’s Terrorism Trial
A Federal High Court in Abuja received testimony on Thursday distinguishing the Eastern Security Network (ESN) from regional security groups like Amotekun, declaring ESN an illegal organization.
DSS Testimony on ESN’s Legal Status
A Department of State Services (DSS) official testified as the second prosecution witness in the terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The witness emphasized that unlike Amotekun – which operates under laws passed by South West state assemblies – ESN lacks legal recognition.
“ESN and Amotekun are not the same. I know that states in the South West passed laws to legalize Amotekun. But ESN is not registered. ESN is illegal. Amotekun is recognized by law,” the DSS witness stated.
Community Policing Debate
The witness acknowledged that DSS Director General Tosin Ajayi previously advocated for community policing, but stressed such initiatives must operate under security agency supervision to prevent abuse.
Video Evidence Presented in Court
Defense lawyer Paul Erokoro (SAN) submitted three video recordings as evidence, including:
- A clip of the DSS DG advocating community defense systems
- Former Defense Minister Theophilus Danjuma alleging military collusion with armed bandits
- Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma blaming opposition for killings
The DSS witness maintained that their investigations specifically linked IPOB members to killings in Orlu, Imo State, contradicting Governor Uzodinma’s claims.
EndSARS Protest Discussion
When questioned about the EndSARS protests, the witness acknowledged:
- The movement focused on disbanding SARS
- State and national commissions investigated the protests
- Lagos State’s report didn’t classify the protests as terrorism or link them to IPOB
Trial Schedule
Justice James Omotosho set an aggressive timeline:
- Prosecution given 6 days to conclude its case
- Defense allocated 9 days
- Next hearings scheduled for May 28-29 and June 6, 16, 18-19
Source: Dateline Nigeria