A Federal Government witness, identified as BBB, on Wednesday presented a certified true copy (CTC) of Ahmed Gulak’s death certificate in the ongoing terrorism trial of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Gulak, a former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was reportedly killed by suspected IPOB members in 2021.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that BBB, the second prosecution witness (PW-2), tendered the document before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja. This was done while being led in evidence by the Federal Government’s lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.
At the resumption of the hearing, Awomolo informed the court that although the session was slated for the cross-examination of PW-2, he had an additional question for the witness.
“We ask for permission to ask a question, my lord,” Awomolo requested.
Kanu’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, did not object, prompting Justice Omotosho to grant the request.
Awomolo then asked BBB if one of his previous testimonies included a statement that during a radio broadcast, Kanu called for a sit-at-home, which allegedly led to Gulak’s death.
The witness affirmed the statement, adding that he participated in some of the investigations surrounding Gulak’s death. He further disclosed that he had a death certificate issued by the police dated July 18, 2021, in the courtroom.
According to BBB, the document is a certified true copy of the medical report on Gulak’s death.
When the document was shown to Kanu’s lawyer, he raised no objection, leading Justice Omotosho to admit it as evidence, marking it as Exhibit PWJ.
Awomolo then requested that the witness read the contents of the death certificate in open court.
BBB read the certificate, confirming it was issued by the Nigeria Police in Owerri, Imo State, regarding Gulak, who was allegedly shot dead by IPOB members in 2021.
Following the testimony, Agabi proceeded with the cross-examination of the witness.
