Court Allows FG To Present Witnesses Behind Screens In Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial

The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resumed on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice James Omotosho, who is presiding over the case, approved a request from the Federal Government to allow witnesses to testify from behind a screen for security reasons.

During the session, Nnamdi Kanu’s lead lawyer, Kanu Agabi, told the court that he had a 22-member legal team.

However, the judge made it clear that only 13 of them would be officially recognized for the proceedings.

Four Senior Advocates of Nigeria—Audu Nunghe, Joseph Akubo, Emeka Etiaba, and Onyechi Ikpeazu—have now joined the defence team.

Federal Government counsel Adegboyega Awolowo explained that they had earlier filed an ex parte motion to protect the identities of the witnesses due to the sensitive nature of the case.

One of the prosecution witnesses, referred to as “AAA,” is an 18-year veteran of the Department of State Services (DSS). He testified from behind a screen.

AAA told the court that on October 14, 2015, he and his team were sent to arrest Kanu at the Golden Tulip Hotel near Lagos International Airport.

At first, the hotel staff claimed Nnamdi Kanu wasn’t a guest and his name didn’t appear on the guest records.

With permission from their superior, the DSS officers conducted a room-to-room search and eventually found Kanu in room 303 with a woman named Maria Ibezimakor.

According to the witness, Kanu resisted arrest and even headbutted one of the officers, Bolaji.

Inside the room, they reportedly found broadcasting equipment that looked like a makeshift studio. The equipment was seized and later taken to the DSS office in Lagos.

Kanu, the witness said, acknowledged that the items belonged to him and confirmed that everything was accounted for.

The inventory of the seized items was presented in court as evidence and accepted.

KanyiDaily recalls that Nnamdi Kanu recently apologized to the Federal High Court for verbally attacking Justice Binta Nyako.