Court Approves Witness Protection in Nnamdi Kanu’s Treason Trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Federal Government permission to conceal the identities of witnesses scheduled to testify against the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The decision was made on Tuesday by Justice James Omotosho following an ex parte application filed by the government’s legal team, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN. The court ruled that the witnesses would testify behind a protective screen and be identified only by acronyms during the trial.

According to Awomolo, this measure was necessary to safeguard the witnesses due to security concerns and the sensitive nature of the case. Although the witnesses will remain unseen by the public, the presiding judge will have a full view of them.

Kanu’s legal team, headed by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, did not oppose the application.

Following the ruling, the Federal Government began presenting its case against Kanu by calling its first witness, identified only as PWAAA.

Kanu’s trial began afresh after the case was reassigned to Justice Omotosho. He had earlier pleaded not guilty to a seven-count charge of treasonable felony filed by the government. The trial initially started under Justice Binta Nyako, who later withdrew from the case after Kanu accused her of bias.

Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested in Lagos on October 14, 2015, after returning from the United Kingdom. The court granted him bail on health grounds on April 25, 2017, following 18 months in detention. He was released from Kuje Prison three days later after meeting his bail conditions.

However, during the trial, Kanu fled the country after security operatives stormed his family home in Afara Ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State — an operation that reportedly claimed the lives of some of his followers.

He was later re-arrested in Kenya on June 19, 2021, and brought back to Nigeria on June 27, 2021, under controversial circumstances. He has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since then.

On April 8, 2022, the court struck out eight of the original 15 charges against him, describing them as baseless. Subsequently, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on October 13, 2022, ordered Kanu’s release and dismissed the charges.

However, the Federal Government challenged the ruling at the Supreme Court and secured a stay of execution pending the outcome of its appeal.

The Supreme Court, in its judgment delivered on December 15, 2023, overturned the appellate court’s decision, allowing the Federal Government to proceed with the prosecution of Kanu on the remaining seven-count charge.