A Federal High Court in Abuja has permitted the federal government to shield its witnesses in the trial of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
The former NSA is being tried for the possession of firearms and money laundering.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a ruling on the prosecution’s application for witness protection on Thursday, ordered that the witnesses would be allowed to testify behind a screen to be provided by the court.
The judge ordered that the screen should be used in such a way as to obstruct the view of the judge, the defendant, and members of the prosecution and the defence teams.
In dismissing the objection of the defence, the judge ruled, “Section 232 (4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act permits the use of screen in a charge of economic and financial crimes; and money laundering is part of the charges instituted against the defendant.
“Therefore, the request is in order, especially when it has not been shown that it will prejudice against the defendant.”
Justice Mohammed said the application before his court is different from the application which was dismissed when the case was before Justice Adeniyi Ademola on April 8, 2016.
According to him, in that suit, the prosecution did not ask for the witnesses to be shielded and in the current case, the defence did not show how shielding the witnesses will be injurious to the defendant.
“As such, the prayer for the witnesses to be shielded from the public is in order and it is hereby granted,” he said.
