The Federal High Court in Abuja has approved a request from the Federal Government for witnesses in the terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to give their evidence behind a protective screen.
The request, made by government counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), was granted by Justice James Omotosho during proceedings on Tuesday.
Kanu is currently facing a seven-count charge related to terrorism, filed by the Federal Government. In an ex-parte motion, Awomolo argued that the safety of the witnesses was at risk due to the sensitive nature of the case and asked that their identities be shielded from public view.
Justice Omotosho agreed with the prosecution’s concerns and approved the use of protective measures to conceal the witnesses’ identities during testimony.
Kanu’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), did not object to the request but asked for a similar level of cooperation from the government when the defense seeks bail for his client.
After the court’s ruling, the prosecution proceeded to call its first witness, identified only by the initials PWAAA, who began delivering testimony as the trial officially commenced.
