Tag Archives: Secret Trial

Court fixes March 1 to decide on ‘secret trial’ for Dasuki

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Ahmed Mohammed, justice of the federal high court, Abuja,  is going to decide if witnesses in the trial of Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), will be shielded on March 1.

 

Dasuki is facing two-counts of illegal possession of firearms and money laundering brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

 

Mohammed “inherited” the case from Adeniyi Ademola, who is facing charges of alleged corruption.

 

On Tuesday, Oladipo Okpeseyi, counsel to the federal government and prosecution, prayed the court to shield the identities of the witnesses that would testify in Dasuki’s trial for their safety.

 

The government had made the same request to Ademola when he was handling the trial, but the judge did not grant it.

 

Objecting to the request, Ahmed Raji, counsel to Dasuki, argued that there was no justification for his client to be tried in secret, reminding the court that the same application had earlier been dismissed by another court.

 

However, the hearing of the application could not continue because Okpeseyi asked the court to give him some time to respond to a counter-affidavit filed by Dasuki’s counsel.

 

The judge, thereafter, adjourned the matter to March 1.

 

Besides his case at the federal high court, Dasuki is facing multiple charges of money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

 

Source: The Cable

BREAKING: Court suspends Nnamdi Kanu’s secret trial

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An Abuja Federal High Court, on Thursday suspended the secret trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, till further notice.

 

Justice Binta Nyako made the pronouncement following a prima facie suit filed by Kanu’s counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor challenging the veracity of the charges leveled against them.

 

Shortly after his introduction, Ejiofor argued that the charges against the defendants lack merit and basic proof.

 

According to Ejiofor, “Nnamdi Kanu (the first defendant) is only exercising his right to self-determination.”

 

He contended that the defendants started their agitations before Muhammadu Buhari emerged as President; hence do not pose any threat to the Federal Government.

 

After listening to his argument, Nyako suspended the trial till further notice.

 

Kanu alongside Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, are currently facing trial before the Justice Nyako – led court for charges bordering on treasonable felony.

 

Details later…

Reps panel chair, MASSOB fault secret trial of Kanu

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Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, Nkem Uzoma Abonta and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) have faulted the secret trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

In an interview, the representative of Ukwa Federal Constituency of Abia State enjoined retracing of steps, saying it was necessary for the public to monitor proceedings.

He condemned any act that could breach the peace in the polity, arguing that subjecting the IPOB leader to secret trial was unfair.

In a statement by its national leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu yesterday in Abakaliki, MASSOB restated support for Kanu and other agitators.

He maintained that that the Biafra proponents committed no crime against the country.

“Our involvement, commitment and continuous agitation for an independent Biafran Republic is enshrined, supported and backed by international conventions and laws, including United Nations Declaration and African Charter on the Human Rights of Indigenous People fully supported by 1999 constitution,” the statement read in part.

Dasuki Objects To Secret Trial

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The former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Rtd), has objected an appeal for a secret trial in the criminal charges of unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering preferred against him.

At the resumed trial of Colonel Dasuki on Monday, the Federal Government (FG) applied to a Federal High Court in Abuja for a secret trial while also filing additional four fresh charges against the former NSA.

The charges now include alleged retention of funds which formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of money laundering for which the former NSA pleaded not guilty.

Besides the appeal for a secret trial, the FG is also seeking witness protection for all its witness in the suit.

Credit: ChannelsTV