Nigerian gov't loses bid to conduct secret trial of former security adviser

The Nigerian government on Tuesday lost its bid to conduct secret trial of former National Security Adviser, Muhammad Sambo Dasuki in the charges of unlawful possession of firearm and money laundering brought against him in September 2015.

Delivering ruling in an application for secret trial of former NSA, Justice Adeniyi Ademola held that the government had in its charges listed the names and addresses of 11 witnesses to be called to testify against Dasuki and made same available to the general public and as such there was no basis for any hide and seek game in the trial.

Justice Ademola rejected the plea by government that the court during Dasuki's trial be sought against the general public except the lawyers involved in the trial and accredited journalists.

According to him, there was no basis to grant the request of government to make the witnesses wear special mask, bear pseudo names and addresses because the charges against Dasuki was not terrorism related and that there was no information that the life of any of the witnesses billed to be called was being threatened by anybody of group.

Justice Ademola said the government failed to establish any fact that life of its witnesses was being threatened and as such no court of law would accede to such requests without established reason.

The Judge had earlier ordered the government to henceforth allow the detained former adviser have access to his lawyers and family members in the interest of justice and the rule of law.

Ademola issued the order following complains by counsel to Dasuki, Ahmed Raji that his client was being held incommunicado since December 2015.

The judge gave a ruling in which he ordered that Tuesdays and Thursdays be set aside for Dasuki to have free access to his lawyers and family members for at least two hours of the day. Endit