A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the alleged
mastermind of the April 14 Nyanya bomb blast, Aminu Ogwuche and five orders be
tried in camera.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who gave the order, also allowed the
prosecution to use aliases for the defence witnesses.
At the resumed trial of Aminu Oguwche and five others
accused of carrying out the April 14 Nyanya bomb blast which claimed over 76
lives, the Prosecution applied to hold the trial in camera to protect the
witnesses in the case.
The Director of Public Prosecution, Musa Din, told the court
that the nature of the case for which the accused persons are standing trial is
sensitive and there was the need to ensure witnesses’ protection so as not to
expose them to danger.
The defence lawyers did not oppose a camera trial, they
however opposed the application for the witnesses to be masked.
This was on the grounds that it is alien to Nigerian laws
and masking the witnesses would deny the defence the opportunity to properly
examine the witnesses.
They argued that this also violates the rights of the
accused persons to fair hearing.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, while granting three of the prayers
which bothered on witnesses protection, however, rejected an application
requesting that the witnesses be masked.
He said that there would be no threat to the witnesses
because members of the public have been excluded from the trial. He advised the
prosecution to take other measures to protect the identity of the witnesses
during trial.
Justice Mohammed ordered that the accused persons, their
lawyers and selected journalists screened by the court be allowed access for
the trial.
Ogwuche was extradited from Sudan with the help of Interpol
on July 15, 2014 to answer charges of terrorism leveled against him in relation
to the twin bombing in Nyanya motor park in the outskirts of Abuja which
claimed 76 lives on April 14, 2014.
Nairaland
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