The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, resumed on Tuesday and during the hearing, Kanu’s counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told the court that the Department of State Services, DSS, was responsible for the death of some people who had visited the Biafran activist in prison.

Ejiofor alleged that “nine persons were arrested after they came to visit (Kanu in Prison), traced to their homes in Abia, and credible information shows they are dead‎”. He urged the court to take a stand against‎ the action of the DSS.

But Shuaibu Labaran, counsel to the Federal Government, denied the allegation, saying he had no personal attachment to the case.

In keeping with the order given by Justice Binta Nyako in December, the media and the general public were prohibited from covering the hearing proceedings.

Security operatives initially prevented journalists from entering the courtroom, but later granted them entry only after a hospital-like demarcation had been used to barricade the event from being covered.

Justice Nyako had okayed an application by the federal government that prosecution witnesses be protected from public view for their own safety.

Earlier, Kanu’s lawyer had filed an‎ application asking the court to throw out the charges against his client, arguing that FG does not have enough evidence to support their claims.

The prosecution council, however, asked the court for time to be able to respond to the application.

‎The trial was subsequently adjourned to Thursday.

The IPOB leader is facing charges of treason alongside three other members of the group: – Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.

He has been in detention since 2015.