The federal government on Tuesday applied for the concealment of identities of witnesses in the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mohammed Diri brought the application before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
But defence counsel Chuks Momah (SAN) requested for time to to file a counter affidavit in reply to the application.
Momah also made an application to Justice James Tsoho asking for the release of Kanu’s personal properties not linked to the case as exhibits.
The items are: the sums of $2,200 and N87, 000 and Kanu’s British and Nigerian international passports.
The application was opposed by prosecution counsel Diri on the grounds that the application ought to be made to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) citing Sections 10(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Justice Tsoho ruled that the application for defence lacks merit and dismissed it. He further ordered that relatives and other members of the public be allowed access to the proceedings subject to the capacity of the court.
The case was adjourned to February 19 for hearing of the application.
