Legal representatives for detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu has opposed an application by the federal government to conduct his trial in secret. Kanu is facing a six-count treason charge and FG had in the application it filed before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja lamented that all the witnesses billed to testify against Kanu and two other pro-Biafra agitators, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, who are facing trial with him, have declined to appear in court, voicing concerns about their safety.
Consequently, Mr. David Kaswe, government legal aid, prayed trial Justice John Tsoho to issue an order protecting the identities of the witnesses by allowing them to either wear facial mask or to testify behind screens.
The Federal government on their part, applied for an order excluding persons except journalists from witnessing the court proceedings.
“The measure is to safeguard the lives of prosecution witnesses who live in the geographical region where the defendants come from. Since their arrest, there has been violent protests for the defendants to be released. “The witnesses have already indicated fear to give evidence in view of perceived backlash. My lord, they have categorically informed us that unless they could be guaranteed some form of protection by the court, they would not come to testify”.
“In the light of this, the case of the prosecution will be greatly affected should there be any reason for the witnesses not to come to court”, Kaswe submitted.
Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Chuks Muoma, SAN, opposed the application which according to him grossly lacked merit.
Kanu was the Director of the controversial Radio Biafra and Television, and has been in detention since October 14, 2015, after being arrested by security operatives upon his arrival to Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.
Kanu and two other defendants were facing charges of treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
FG alleged that they were the ones managing the affairs of the IPOB which it described as “an unlawful society”. Specifically, Kanu was alleged to have illegally smuggled radio transmitters into Nigeria, which he used to disseminate “hate broadcasts”, encouraging the “secession of the Republic of Biafra”, from Nigeria.
The accused persons have all pleaded not guilty to the charge on January 20, even as the court ordered their remand at Kuje prison in Abuja.
