The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Tuesday granted an application by the federal government to shield the identities of witnesses billed to testify against the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice James Omotosho granted the application after the federal government’s counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, moved an ex parte motion to the effect.
Moving the motion, Mr Awomolo told the court that the identities of the witnesses needed to be protected for security reasons.
The lawyer informed the court that the charges against Mr Kanu bordered on terrorism, hence the need to protect the witnesses.
He requested that the names of the witnesses be shielded from the public for general security reasons.
Kanu Agabi, who appeared for Mr Kanu, did not object to the application.
Mr Agabi, however, requested similar cooperation from the federal government when the bail application for Mr Kanu would be argued.
The judge subsequently granted Mr Awomolo’s plea.
Meanwhile, the first prosecution witness, identified as PWAAA, commenced testifying as the government formally opened its case against Mr Kanu.
The witness, who told the court that he had served for about 18 years in service, said he was assigned with some team members to arrest Mr Kanu at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Lagos.
He gave his testimony behind the protective shield.
In the evidence presented before the court, video recordings of Mr Kanu’s interrogation by SSS operatives was played in the open court and the statement he made on October 15, 2015, was also read, where he admitted establishing Radio Biafra in London and registered in London.
In the statement read out in the open court, Mr Kanu said he was interrogated by the SSS without the presence of his lawyer as required by law.
The IPOB leader, in the documentary evidence, admitted not registering the radio station with the National Broadcasting Commission because he felt there was no need for it.
In his statement, he admitted fighting for emancipation of the people of the South-East, South-South and parts of Benue and Kogi states. NAN
