Justice Omotosho granted the request while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by the government’s lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – In a significant development in the ongoing terrorism trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the federal government’s request to allow its witnesses testify behind a screen, effectively shielding their identities from the public.
Justice James Omotosho granted the request on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by the government’s lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.
Arguing the motion, Awomolo urged the court to permit protective measures for the witnesses, citing national security concerns due to the nature of the case.
“The charges against the defendant are terrorism-related, and it is imperative that the identities of the witnesses be protected to ensure their safety,” Awomolo stated.
He stressed the need to shield the names and identities of those scheduled to testify, explaining that the government’s request was based purely on security considerations.
Notably, Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, did not oppose the application, which cleared the way for Justice Omotosho to grant the request.
In response, however, Agabi requested reciprocal understanding from the federal government, particularly when arguments over Kanu’s bail application arise in the near future.