Court refuses request to mask witnesses who’ll testify against Kanu

An application by the federal government to conduct Nnamdi Kanu’s trial in secret owing to the fact that all witnesses that have been lined up to testify against the IPOB leader declined to appear in court unless their safety is guaranteed has been thrown out by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
While giving reasons the court turned down the application, the trial judge, Justice James Tsoho said the prosecution did not furnish the court with enough evidence to show that, it’s witnesses were in danger.

Read also: FG wants secret trial, Kanu kicks

Tsoho said the only seeming evidence offered by the prosecutor was a mere mention that the witnesses lined up to testify against Kanu are scared for their lives.

While declaring that the state has all of the resources to ensure that the witnesses in the suit are protected, Tsoho also agreed with the Counsel to the accused persons that the demeanour of a witness is important in helping the court decide if he is a witness of truth or otherwise.
Tsoho who adjourned the trial to March 7, 2016 says however that his order on lawyers, journalists and closed relatives of the accused persons still stands.

Recall that counsel to the government, Mr David Kaswe told the court earlier before the ruling that the application is pursuant to the fact that the prosecution witnesses reside in the geographical entity of the accused persons and they have said they will not be willing to testify unless they are assured of their security.

He added that most of the witnesses categorically informed his team that unless they can be guaranteed some form of protection by the court, they will not testify.

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