FG demands secret trial for Biafra leader

The Federal Government has prayed a Federal High Court in Abuja to conduct a secret trial to cross-examine witnesses in the ongoing case against leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra,

The Director of Prosecution in the office of the Attorney General, who also stands as the counsel for the government, Mohammed Diri, at the opening of session asked the court allow a secret trial to protect witnesses.

Responding to the secret trying application, Kanu's counsel, Chuks Muoma, rejected it, arguing that the military personnel were already providing adequate security during the trial.

Muoma urged the court to order the return of Kanu's Nigerian and British passports, and cash of $2,200; N87,000 collected from him when he was arrested.

He accused the prosecution of deliberately avoiding to state anything regarding the collected cash and items in its affidavit.

The lawyer stressed that the allegations against the Biafra leader have not been proven in court, so the return of the cash and passports should be ordered.

However, the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, ruled that the submission of the prosecution counsel that the application for release of his client’s items should be made to the office of the AGF was wrong.

The judge noted that since the defendants had been brought before the court of law, the manner of making the application for retrieval of items was duly made.

READ: Court denies Nnamdi Kanu's request for seized British, Nigerian passports

He however ruled that since evidences were yet to be tendered before the court on the matter, it would be improper to assume that the items were not important to the prosecution.

“I hold a humble view that just as the prosecution is not to be confined to the number of witnesses it can bring before a court, its number of evidences cannot also be limited,” Tsoho said.

He adjourned the case to February 19 for ruling on the application for secret trial.

Kanu, and two others, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, are facing charges of alleged treason, maintaining unlawful society, possession of firearms, among others.