A Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja on Wednesday granted an software by the Federal Authorities to guard the id of witnesses lined as much as testify in opposition to an alleged terrorist affiliate, Tukur Mamu.
The Kaduna-based cleric and writer is dealing with trial in reference to the Kaduna-Abuja practice assault in March final yr that left no less than eight individuals useless and dozens kidnapped for ransom.
Mamu, who was indicted in March of this yr, faces 10 counts of indictment that, amongst different issues, border on financing terrorism.
He was accused of accepting a $120,000 ransom on behalf of Boko Haram terrorists from the households of the practice assault hostages.
Mamu can also be accused of exchanging voice messages concerning terrorist acts with one Baba Adamu (spokesman of Boko Haram).
Moreover, he was accused of dealing in terrorist funds within the quantity of $300,000, which have been allegedly present in his possession.
The accused, nevertheless, pleaded not responsible to the costs.
On Wednesday, counsel for the Legal professional Normal of the Federation, DE Kaswe, filed an ex parte software earlier than Justice Inyang Ekwo for an order to guard the id of the prosecution witness.
Within the motion he noticed Information Company of NigeriaThe FG prayed for “an order of this Honorable Courtroom that the bodily id of prosecution witnesses be protected by carrying face masks and/or use of screens every time prosecution witnesses testify”.
The prosecution additionally requested the courtroom to direct using pseudonyms by prosecution witnesses “and to delete the true names and addresses of prosecution witnesses all through the proceedings on this case.”
Additional, the State Counsel prayed for an order “excluding non-parties and their authorized representatives from the listening to of the above cost aside from members of the accredited press.”
Justice Ekwo within the ruling granted the appliance as prayed.
Earlier, when the case was filed, Mamu, who was the one accused within the cost, was not in courtroom.
Kaswe then instructed the courtroom that Mamu was nonetheless on the street with the safety operatives.
“I urge this honorable courtroom to withdraw this matter as a result of they’re nonetheless approaching the street,” he prayed.
However the decide rejected the request, joking: “Do you assume that is an impartial courtroom? That request was denied.”
The case was then adjourned to July 21 for the beginning of the trial.