The federal government has commenced the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on allegations of treason.

The prosecuting counsel of the federal government, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) on Tuesday tendered the statement made by Kanu to the Department of State Services (DSS) on October 15, 2015 when he was first arrested in Lagos, and four suitcases recovered from him in the hotel.

The statement was read out in the open court by a DSS prosecution witness and the video played back following Kanu’s claim that the statement was obtained in the absence of his lawyers.

In the statement, Kanu told DSS officials that the agitation for self-determination is not a crime anywhere in the world, maintaining that he would continue the struggle to emancipate the South East, South South and parts of Benue and Kogi states.

He further denied involvement in violence in any part of the country, insisting that he had not been linked with any one.

In the video clips, Kanu stated that he established Radio Biafra in London where it was registered, admitting that he did not register it with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) because there was no need for it.

Similarly, the contents of the four suite cases tendered in court were displayed showing personal belongings of the defendant, including the Biafra radio equipment.

Meanwhile, the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, has approved the concealment of the identities of prosecution witnesses in the trial.

The judge granted an ex parte application by Awomolo, who argued that the concealment was for security reasons because the matter bordered on terrorism.

Defence counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who did not object to the application, requested similar cooperation from the federal government when his client’s bail application would be argued.