Govt wants more protection for witnesses in Nyanya bombings case

THE Federal Government has prayed the Federal High Court, Abuja Division for absolute protection of witnesses meant to testify at the trial of the alleged mastermind of Nyanya bombings, Aminu Ogwuche and six others charged with alleged complicity in the blasts, which killed and maimed scores of people.

Although the court had earlier granted an order to try the suspects under a partial secret trial, the prosecution said that the witnesses were still not feeling safe enough under that arrangement, causing it to apply for a modification.

Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, Ahmed Abubakar, Mohammed Ishaq, Ya’u Saidu (alias Kofar Rama), Anas Isa, Adamu Yusuf and Nasir Abubakar are facing terrorism related charges.
The trial was adjourned to yesterday for the prosecution to call its witnesses.

But at the resumed trial yesterday, a representative of the prosecution M. Ogunsina told the court that he had a motion dated and filed on April 9, seeking a modification of the order of the court made on March 18, 2015.

Specifically, government wants the court to direct the use of screens to shield the prosecution witnesses to protect them from public view and to allow only the lead counsel to the accused person access to view the facial identities of the prosecution witnesses.
Secondly, that the court permits the prosecution witnesses protected access to the courtroom through a non-public route.