The Federal Government on Monday asked an Abuja Federal High
Court to conduct “secret trial” for the three men charged with alleged
links with the Boko Haram insurgents.
A Chief State
Counsel, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Jones Nebo,
who made the application, said it became necessary to protect the
identity of its witnesses.
Three accused persons, Mohammed Yunus,
Musa Umar, and Salami Abdullahi were arraigned on an eight-count charge
bordering on terrorism.
They were arrested and detained in October
2013, for allegedly holding various meetings aimed at carrying out
insurgency across the country.
Ms. Nebo also said that the
prosecution’s motion was brought pursuant to Sections 33 and 34 of the
Terrorism Prevention Act 2013, as amended, and Section 115 of the
Evidence Act.
She argued that the application complied Sections 36
and 203 of the Criminal Procedure Act which supported the
non-disclosure of identities and names of witnesses.
Hassan Liman,
James Ocholi, and Abdul Mohammed, counsel to the first, second and
third accused respectively, opposed the application. They urged the
court to dismiss the application, contending that it lacked merit.
Mr.
Ocholi said “this application is in conflict with Section 36 (4) of the
1999 Constitution, which pertains to fundamental rights and fair
hearing.
“Fundamental rights, public hearing and fair hearing
cannot be separated. “It is easier for a person to tell a lie in secret
than in public as there will be nobody to correct them in secret, and
also where there is no publicity, there is no justice.’’
The judge, Gabriel Kolawole, adjourned the case to March 18 for ruling.
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