The Federal Government, on Monday, formally opened its case against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
This came as the court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, granted a request by the prosecution to shield the identities of witnesses lined up to testify in the ongoing trial.
The request, filed through an ex-parte motion by the prosecution team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adegboyega Awomolo, was granted on the grounds of national security and the sensitive nature of the case.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the witnesses will testify behind a screen and be identified by acronyms. While the public will not see them, the judge and the defendant will retain full access to their identities. Kanu’s legal team, led by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), did not oppose the arrangement.
Following the court’s ruling, the Federal Government presented its first witness, identified only as PWAAA, who gave details of Kanu’s arrest in 2015.
The witness, a security operative, testified that he led the team that apprehended Kanu on October 14, 2015, at the Golden Tulip Hotel near Lagos International Airport. According to him, Kanu, who had just returned from the United Kingdom, was arrested in the company of a woman after a thorough room-to-room search was conducted due to his name not appearing on the hotel manifest.
It was later discovered, the witness said, that Kanu had booked the room under his native name, which delayed his detection.
During court proceedings, a statement allegedly made by Kanu was read out. In it, he denied any involvement in violence in the South East and insisted that his agitation for the rights of the people of the South East, South South, and parts of Benue and Kogi states was a peaceful one rooted in his constitutional rights—not terrorism, as claimed by the government.
The trial continues, with more witnesses expected to be called in the coming days.
