Court Orders that Alleged Nyanya Bombers Be Tried on Camera

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the alleged
mastermind of the April 14 Nyanya bomb blast, Aminu Ogwuche and five
orders be tried on camera.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who gave the order, also allowed the prosecution to use aliases for the defense witnesses.

ChannelsTV reports that at the resumed trial of Aminu Oguwche and
five others accused of carrying out the April 14 Nyanya bomb blast which
claimed over 76 lives, the Prosecution applied to hold the trial on
camera to protect the witnesses in the case.

The prosecutors also wanted the court to allow the witnesses be masked to prevent a breach of their
personal safety.

The Director of Public Prosecution, Musa Din, told the court that
the nature of the case for which the accused persons are standing trial
is sensitive and there was the need to ensure witnesses’ protection so
as not to expose them to danger.

The defense lawyers did not oppose a camera trial, they however
opposed the application for the witnesses to be masked. This was on the
grounds that it is alien to Nigerian laws and masking the witnesses
would deny the defence the opportunity to properly examine the
witnesses.

They argued that this also violates the rights of the accused persons to fair hearing.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, while granting three of the prayers which
bothered on witnesses protection, however, rejected an application
requesting that the witnesses be masked.

He said that there would be no threat to the witnesses because
members of the public have been excluded from the trial. He advised the
prosecution to take other measures to protect the identity of the
witnesses during trial.

Justice Mohammed ordered that the accused persons, their lawyers and
selected journalists screened by the court be allowed access for the
trial.

Ogwuche was extradited from Sudan with the help of Interpol on July
15, 2014 to answer charges of terrorism leveled against him in relation
to the twin bombing in Nyanya motor park in the outskirts of Abuja which
claimed 76 lives on April 14, 2014.

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