ABUJA: A Nigerian federal high court in the central city of Jos on Thursday started the in camera trial of two presumed leaders of a Niger Delta armed group facing treason charges, a senior court official said.

Henry Okah and Edward Atatah, who are being charged on what has expanded to 47 counts of treason, terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and arms trafficking, were driven from their secret place of detention to the court, under heavy escort, the official said on Friday. “The press and members of the public were denied access to the court room where the case took place,” he said.

According to him Okah and Atatah did not enter their pleas because defence counsel requested more time to study the charges. A high court in Abuja had earlier granted a request by federal prosecutors that the two, who have been detained since their extradition from Anglola on February 14, 2008 should be tried in camera.—AFP