Nyanya Kuje bomb hearing: ​Police demand protection for witnesses

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The Nigeria Police is demanding exclusive protection for its witnesses in the Nyanya​ and​ Kuje bombing case.

In a motion on notice served at a Federal High court in Abuja, during the second hearing, the police made a six-point prayer before Justice Abdul Kafarati, detailing various requests to protect the identity of the witnesses.

The Police had arraigned the suspects for alleged involvement in the twin blasts at Nyanya and Kuje areas of the Federal Capital territory, on October 2, 2015.

The accused persons​:​ Abdulazeez Mohazab, Ishaku Salihu, Moham​m​ed Jimoh, Abdullahi Nasiru and Abdulwaheed Nasiru,​ were expected to appear on Tuesday for hearing following an appeal by the counsel to the police, Mohammed Diri​,​ on October 22.

All five suspects were, however, absent at the hearing on Tuesday.

Mr. Diri explained that the responsibility to produce the accused persons ​was ​vested solely with the prison authorit​ies​​,​ who themselves were not present.

He said his client w​ould​ ensure the ​prison ​authority meets its duty of producing the defendants at the next hearing.

He, however, requested the court to ensure the safety of his witnesses upon continuation of the hearing.

Mr. Diri requested the court to ensure the names and identities of his witnesses be exempted from all records or reports of proceedings accessible to the public.

He asked that the witnesses be addressed with pseudo names in the course of proceedings. He also said the routes to and from the court should be made secret while private witness rooms be used.

Mr. Diri prayed the court to ensure that only the parties involved and members of the media be present in court.

He also requested the court to authorize the use of facial masks by the witnesses to protect their identity as well as any such means the court deems necessary for the protection of the witnesses.

The case was adjourned till December 17, 2015.

Source: Premium Times