The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Federal Government’s request to conceal the identities of witnesses scheduled to testify against Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group proscribed by Nigerian authorities.
Justice James Omotosho, who is now presiding over the case, ruled in favor of the government’s application on Tuesday.
The decision allows witnesses to provide testimony behind a screen, with pseudonyms replacing their actual names in court records.
Though shielded from public view, the judge will retain full visibility of the witnesses.
The application, presented by lead prosecutor Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, cited security concerns due to the sensitive nature of the charges against Kanu.
The move was not challenged by Kanu’s defense team, which is being led by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN.
Following the court’s ruling, the government formally opened its case, calling its first anonymous witness identified only by the acronym “PWAAA.”
Kanu’s current trial marks a fresh start following the reassignment of his case to Justice Omotosho.
He stands accused on a seven-count charge of treasonable felony—a charge to which he has pleaded not guilty.
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The legal battle has spanned nearly a decade. Kanu was first arrested in Lagos in 2015 upon his return from the United Kingdom.
He was granted bail in April 2017 on health grounds but fled Nigeria later that year after a military operation at his home in Umuahia, Abia State, resulted in multiple casualties.
He resurfaced in Kenya in June 2021, where he was detained and then controversially extradited to Nigeria. Since then, he has remained in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The legal back-and-forth has been intense. In 2022, a Federal High Court struck out eight of the 15 original charges against him.
Later that year, the Court of Appeal ordered his release and dismissed the charges.
However, the Supreme Court reversed that decision in December 2023, permitting the government to proceed with the remaining charges.
As proceedings resume with new judicial oversight and a revised strategy from both legal camps, the case continues to stir strong emotions across Nigeria and within the international community.