Ebun Francis
A federal high court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Ahmed Mohammed will on March 1 decide if witnesses in the trial of Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), will be shielded from public view.
The former National security adviser is facing two-counts of illegal possession of firearms and money laundering brought against him by the Department of State Services.
Arguing the prosecution case on Tuesday, Oladipo Okpeseyi, counsel to the federal government, prayed the court to allow the shielding of the identities of the witnesses involved in the trial for safety purposes.
However, Ahmed Raji, counsel to Dasuki, kicked against the Okpeseyi’s position, stating 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 Justice Ademola who was in charge of the case before he was charged for corrupt practices and abuse of office by the Federal Government.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned the case to March 1 following the request by Okpeseyi, the prosecution counsel, for time to respond to a counter-affidavit filed by Dasuki’s counsel.