ABUJA – The Federal Government on Tuesday asked an Abuja Federal High Court to vary its ruling on partial secret trial for three Boko Haram suspects.
The court had on April 3 ruled that the trial of Mohammed Yunus, Salami Abdullahi and Musa Umar, being tried on eight-count charge of terrorism would be conducted partially in secret.
The Federal Government had on March 7 applied for the trial to be conducted in secret.
But the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, had held that it was necessary to grant partial secret trial so as to ensure fair trial as prescribed in the constitution.
Kolawole had held that he would not shut down the entire court room, but make adequate provisions to shield the identities of citizens, who give evidence for the state from danger.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mrs N.B Jones-Nebo, the state counsel, said government had an application seeking for the modification of the ruling to protect the identity of its witnesses.
Jones-Nebo said the application dated May 2, had been served on the defendants, adding that the defendants had replied and she needed time to respondent to their counter-affidavit.
Her application was, however, opposed by the three counsel for accused persons, Mr Hassan Liman, Mr James Ocholi and Mr Abdul Mohammed, respectively.
They urged the court to discountenance the application because it was intended to delay the trial.
Kolawole, in a short ruling, granted the prosecution counsel’s prayer for adjournment and gave the prosecution seven days within which to reply to the defendant’s counsel counter-affidavit.
He adjourned the case till May 14 for hearing of the prosecution’s motion, while the accelerated trial would commence from June 9.
The accused were remanded in prison. (NAN)
