The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday granted the prosecution witnesses in the trial of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) permission to testify behind screen. The Federal Government is trying Dasuki over charges of unlawful possession of firearms and moneylaundering brought against him since 2015.
The screen is to be provided by the Federal High Court in Abuja where the ex-NSA is to be prosecuted on the charges.
The witnesses would, however, not be shielded from lawyers that would be in the court throughout the trial. In ruling in a motion on notice filed by the federal government through its counsel, Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN), the trial judge, Justice A.R Mohammed, held that the request for the witnesses to testify behind the screen was granted because part of the charges against Dasuki has to do with money laundering.
The court further held that although a similar request had been presented before the court in 2015 and rejected by the court, but, however, hinted that the decision to allow the use of screen was granted because of the nature of the case of the charge. Justice Mohammed also held that the fresh motion, argued by Okpeseyi, did not constitute abuse of court process because the prayers in the old and the fresh one were not the same.
Besides, the court held that Section 232 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 permitted the use of screen when charges have to do with the economic crimes as in the instant case.
During the argument, the prosecution had insisted that Dasuki, being a former military officer, former aide de camp (ADC) to a former Head of State, former NSA and a crown prince of Sokoto caliphate was a potential threat to its witnesses lined up to justify the charges against him.
The federal government had urged Justice Mohammed to allow the screening of the witnesses in order to guarantee their safety after their evidence in court.
Okpeseyi told the court that the witnesses, who are operatives of the Department of Security Services (DSS), carry out their works across the country and could be attacked by sympathizers and well-wishers of Dasuki unless their identities are protected.
The counsel submitted that Dasuki was once the boss of the witnesses and that they (witnesses) could be jeopardised unless their names are not placed at the public domain.
