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

Justice James Omotosho issued the ruling on Tuesday following an ex-parte application filed by the prosecution team, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.

In the ruling, the court allowed the prosecution’s request for witnesses to testify behind a screen, with their names replaced by acronyms to protect their identities. Although shielded from the public, the witnesses will be visible to the trial judge.

Awomolo told the court that the measure was necessary due to the sensitive nature of the case and for the safety of the witnesses. The application was not opposed by the defence team, led by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN.

Following the court’s approval, the prosecution opened its case by presenting its first witness, identified only as PWAAA.

Kanu is standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on treasonable felony, to which he has pleaded not guilty. The case is starting afresh before Justice Omotosho after it was reassigned, following the withdrawal of Justice Binta Nyako. She recused herself after the defence accused her of bias.

Kanu was initially arrested in Lagos on October 14, 2015, upon his return from the United Kingdom. After spending 18 months in detention, he was granted bail on health grounds on April 25, 2017, and released three days later.

However, during the trial, Kanu fled the country after a military operation at his residence in Afara Ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, which reportedly led to the death of some of his supporters.

He was re-arrested in Kenya on June 19, 2021, and was extradited to Nigeria on June 27, 2021. He has since been held in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

On April 8, 2022, the trial court struck out eight of the 15 charges initially filed against him, ruling that they lacked merit. Subsequently, on October 13, 2022, the Court of Appeal in Abuja ordered Kanu’s release and quashed the remaining charges.

However, the Federal Government appealed to the Supreme Court, which, on December 15, 2023, overturned the appellate court’s decision and gave the green light for Kanu’s trial to continue on the remaining seven counts.