Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The secret trial of the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, began on Tuesday in Abuja under tight security, as Kanu arrived the court premises for the commencement of his secret trial amidst heavy security.Kanu was transported to court in an enclosed Hilux van, while an open Hilux with prison officers followed closely.However, many journalists were barred from gaining access to the courtroom.
But journalists with Federal High Court tags were allowed to enter the court.
Some of the journalists had complained that the tags were not made available to them even when they had applied for it long time ago.
But later, after Kanu’s lawyer intervened, some journalists were allowed in.
Kanu and three others, David Nwawuisi, Benjamin Madubugwu and Chidiebere Onwudiwe, are accused of treasonable felony.
The Judge, Mrs. Binta Nyako, had ruled in December 2016 that witnesses would be allowed some degree of protection.
“The counsels and the defendants will see the witnesses. The witnesses will have special entrances to and outside the court,” the Judge said.
Nyako also said the court would allow the witnesses to be shielded with screen-guards.
She said the court would set aside two days for rehearsals on how the witnesses will come into the court and depart from the court.
The ruling was enforced, on Tuesday, with screen-guards shielding the judge, defendant and witnesses from the rest of the court.