The trial of Dr. Mohammed Yunus and two others alleged to
be members of Boko Haram has been stalled, following the demand of a
witness to wear a mask which was not readily available in court.
Ruling on an application by the Federal Government for a secret trial, Justice Gabriel Kolawole ordered a partial secret trial in order to protect the identity of the witnesses.
The Judge said that witnesses testifying during the public trial of the university lecturer, Dr Muhammed Yunus, Salami Abdullahi and Musa Umar should be shielded from public view.
The court also ordered that witnesses who are to testify in court would not disclose their residential addresses but use the headquarters of the Department of State Security, DSS, as their addresses.
Giving reasons why the witnesses should be shielded, Justice Kolawole said that care must be taken not to expose witnesses to attack by any group or individual and create problem where the state cannot find witnesses to testify.
Having ruled on the application for secret trial, the court went on break to enable the prosecution produce the first witness.
At the resumption of trial, the suspects were arraigned and they all pleaded not guilty to the eight count charge but the trial was stalled as the prosecutor informed the court of their witness demand to wear a mask.
Lawyers to the accused persons, Hassan Liman and Abdul Mohammed criticised the request of the witness to wear a mask when there was non readily available in court.
Justice Kolawole, however, adjourned trial to May 6 and 7, saying the court had ordered an accelerated trial and would do its best to protect the witnesses.
The accused persons, Dr Muhammed Nazeef Yunus, Salami Abdullahi and Musa Umar are being tried on an eight count charge bordering on alleged terrorism, an offence that runs contrary to section 17 of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013 (as amended).
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