Asmau Omar, a suspected terrorist, along with three others, informed the Federal High Court in Ibadan on Thursday that their alleged confessional statements were extracted under coercion.
This declaration was made during a trial within a trial, following objections raised by the defense lawyer, Mr. Seun Agunloye, who challenged the admissibility of the extrajudicial statements presented by the prosecution against his clients.
Omar faces charges alongside three officials from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for purported involvement in illegal arms trafficking and terrorism activities in 2023.
The other accused individuals are Olamide Okesola, Adeleke Adewale, and Emmanuel Olatunji.
The Department of State Services (DSS) arraigned the four on a 15-count amended indictment, which includes conspiracy, terrorism, unlawful arms dealing, and aiding terrorism.
Speaking through a Hausa interpreter, Omar recounted that DSS operatives threatened to kill her if she refused to cooperate or sign a confession admitting her participation in the alleged crimes.
She explained: “In the video footage shown in court last February, the DSS gave me a bottle of Fanta, but I did not drink from it.
“When I was placed in the cell, they stripped me down to just my underwear and forced me to sleep like that.
“They began to beat me because I wouldn’t say what they wanted.
“The beatings intensified, and they warned me that I would be killed if I didn’t comply.
“As punishment for my non-cooperation, they chained my legs and suspended me.
“The only time I smiled was when the DSS officers returned the clothes they had taken from me, and I was not the one who drank the Fanta shown in the video.”
Another defendant, Okesola, testified that he was suspended and struck with an iron rod before being coerced into confessing to terrorism-related offenses.
He also stated that his confession was made without the presence of his lawyer or any family member.
Adewale added that DSS agents subjected him to cruel treatment, chaining his hands and legs and torturing him, while dictating the content of his confession.
Likewise, Olatunji admitted to authoring his statement but insisted it was written under duress.
Despite these claims, all four defendants acknowledged during cross-examination by the prosecution’s counsel, Mr. T.A. Nurudeen, that separate investigations were conducted by the NSCDC’s Oyo State command, its Abuja headquarters, and the DSS prior to their arraignment.
Justice Nkeonye Maha subsequently adjourned the proceedings until December 4, when the written addresses will be submitted.
