Witnesses set to testify in the terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will be shielded from public view, following a court ruling on Tuesday in Abuja. The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, granted the request from the Federal Government’s legal team to allow witnesses to testify behind a screen.
The application was filed by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), lead counsel for the Federal Government, who noted that the safety and identities of the witnesses needed to be protected due to the sensitive nature of the charges. Kanu is currently facing a seven-count charge related to terrorism.
In court, Awomolo argued that revealing the witnesses’ identities could put their lives at risk. He therefore asked that they be allowed to testify without their faces being seen by members of the public or the defendant. Justice Omotosho approved the request, saying it was important to prioritize security while ensuring the trial continues fairly.
Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), did not raise any objection to the application. Instead, Agabi asked that the Federal Government show the same level of cooperation when Kanu’s bail application comes up for consideration. This proposal was acknowledged in court, marking a rare moment of agreement between both legal teams.
With this settled, the prosecution officially began presenting its case. The first witness, simply identified as “PWAAA,” was called to the stand and started giving testimony from behind a protective screen.
