A federal government witness, identified as BBB, on Wednesday presented the certified death certificate of Ahmed Gulak, former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, said to have been killed by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in 2021 for defying a sit-at-home order.
The document was tendered during the trial of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu at the Federal High Court in Abuja. BBB, the second prosecution witness, was shielded from public view while giving his testimony, led by the government’s counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).
Presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, accepted the certificate into evidence, with the session continuing beyond cross-examination to include additional questions for the witness.
“We ask for permission to ask a question, my lord,” he said
Kanu’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, did not oppose Awomolo’s application and the judge directed him to go ahead.
Awomolo then asked BBB that one of the last evidence he gave was that during the radio broadcast made by Kanu, he called for a sit-at-home, leading to the death of Gulak.
The witness confirmed the statement.
He said he participated in some of the investigations leading to Gulak’s death.
Besides, he said he had a certificate of his death in the courtroom from the police dated July 18, 2021.
According to the witness, this is a certified true copy of medical report of Ahmed Gulak
When the document was shown to Agabi, he said he did not have any objection and Justice Omotosho admitted it in evidence and marked as Exhibit PWJ.
Awomolo then sought the court permission for the document to be given to the witness to read in the open court.
BBB, who read the content of the death certificate, said the document was from the Nigeria Police, Owerri in Imo about Ahmed.Gulak who was allegedly shot dead by hoodlums belonging to IPOB in 2021.
After the question, Agabi began the cross examination of the witness.
