The Nigerian government, on Tuesday, lost a suit it filed before an Abuja Federal High Court to conduct a secret trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Rtd).
It would be recalled that the former NSA is under trial for misappropriating $2.1 billion arms deal funds and illegal possession of firearm.
However, the court ruled that there was no need for prosecution witnesses to wear masks, use false names and addresses while testifying before the court.
The presiding judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, posited that the federal government had already published the names and addresses of the 11 prosecution witnesses, hence there was no need to hide their identities.
The judge further rejected the prayer of the federal government to bar the general public, except accredited journalists and lawyers involved, from witnessing the trial.
He stated that the plea by the prosecution was unfounded as Dasuki’s trial was not a terrorism related trial and that there was no evidence to prove that there’s a threat to the life of the witnesses, saying that the court cannot grant such request without established reason.
Justice Ademola also ordered the federal government and the Department of States Security Service (DSS) to allow the former NSA have access to his lawyers and family members.
He ruled that Tuesdays and Thursdays should be set aside for Dasuki to have access to his lawyer and family members for a minimum of two hours per day.
Leave a reply