Nyanya Bombings: Prosecution Wants More Protection for Witnesses

Alleged mastermind of Nyanya bombings, Aminu Ogwuche

By Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

The Federal Government has again applied for a total shield for witnesses who will testify for it in the trial of the alleged mastermind of Nyanya bombings, Aminu Ogwuche, and six others charged with complicity in the blasts that left many people dead and others injured.

The court had earlier granted an order to try the suspects under a partial secret trial.

But the prosecution said that the witnesses were still not feeling safe enough under the partial secret trial and has therefore applied to the court 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  the prosecution to call its witnesses.

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

Specifically, the federal 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 court room through a non public route.

In a five-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion the deponent stated that failure to grant the prayers will affect the witnesses willingness to sacrifice and give evidence for fear of their lives.

However, the defence counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, and five other counsel said they were served with the motion in court on Wednesday and that it was not ripe for hearing.

Raji said that prosecution counsel deliberately served the motion on the defence counsel in court in order to abort proceedings. 

The defence counsel also said that the application was in bad faith, considering that it was filed since April 9 but served on the defence counsel on the date of hearing.

In his ruling, Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned till May 11, 2015 to hear the motion.