A witness of the Department of State Service (DSS) in the trial of pro-Biafra nation agitator, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja, that there is no comparison between the South West security group (Amotekun) and that of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The witness who made the clarification at the ongoing terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, before Justice James Omotosho on Thursday, pointed out that while Amotekun is an organisation backed by law, that of ESN was not backed by any law make it an illegal association.
Amotekun is a Southwestern regional security network set up in all the six states of the Southwest to complement the effort of security agencies in curbing insecurity, especially kidnapping, armed robbery as well as herdsmen and farmers contentions in the region.
The ESN, on the other hand was an arm of the proscribed IPOB, which assumed the position of tackling insecurity in the Southeast.
The witness, Mr. BBB spoke under re-examination by federal government lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.
Kanu is standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism and treasonable felony.
BBB is the second witness to testify against Kanu and also tendered documents allegedly linking Kanu to several killings in the Southeast said to have been orchestrated by the now proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In the said broadcast Kanu had claimed that the announcement of the establishment of ESN was because the southeast Governors did not do what their counterparts in the southwest did in tackling insecurity, adding that since the southeast Governors failed, they had to take things into their hands.
The broadcast said: “We have cowardly, spineless, lily-livered men as Governors.
“ESN is to combat the excesses of the vagabonds that attack us from across the Sahel.
“ESN is not the Biafran army, just a security outfit similar to Amotekun in Yorubaland.
“ESN is our response to the excess bloodshed in our land.
“No Governor in the southeast and south-south has the courage to defend our people because they are beholden to the caliphate, therefore IPOB must rise and protect our people”.
At Thursday’s proceedings, shortly after the defense finished questioning the witness, the prosecution counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awolowo SAN, asked the witness to differentiate between the ESN and Amotekun.
Responding, BBB told the court that while the ESN was formed without any backing of the law, the Amotekun security outfit on the other hand has legal backing from the respective Houses of Assembly of the affected states.
“My lord, while the ESN is not a registered organisation recognised by law, Amotekun was established following the law passed by the respective Houses of Assembly in the affected States,” the witness stated.
Earlier, the trial Judge restated his position on ensuring accelerated trial of the Biafra nation agitator, and warned against attempts to cause unnecessary delays in the hearing of the case.
He said with a three-month vacation of the Federal High Court slated for some time in July, it was incumbent on all parties in the case to work to get the job done as required, making the best use of time.
Both Chief Paul Erokoro, SAN, on the side of the defense and Awomolo for the prosecution, pledged to be on the same page with the court in the speedy hearing of the case.
While cross examining the witness, the defendant tendered some video clips.
They included that by the Director General of Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, where he asked communities to be the ‘first line of defence’ in addressing insecurity in the country.
In the video of a public engagement, the DSS DG also urged communities to be well guided by security agencies in their approach of security, and not take laws into their hands.
He said securing arms, for instance, must be with the supervision of the authorities, to forestall anarchy.
The other two videos contained in a flash drive admitted as exhibit in the case are those of former defence Chief, Theophilus Danjuma and that of Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
Another item tendered by the defence is the report of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters.
Following the end of questioning of the witness, the Judge then gave six days for the continuation of hearing and for the prosecution to prove and close its case.
The trial Judge therefore adjourned the case till 28 and 29 of May and 6, 16, 18 and 19 of June.
