The Federal High Court Abuja has granted the Federal Government’s request to shield a key prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of six individuals accused of plotting a coup against the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Presiding judge Joyce Abdulmalik approved the protective measures after prosecutors argued that the witness, a serving security officer, faced serious safety risks if his identity was revealed during proceedings.
The defendants are facing a 13 count charge involving allegations of treason, terrorism, failure to disclose information, and money laundering. They include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, police inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, electrician Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and cleric Abdulkadir Sani.
All six accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During Wednesday’s sitting, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo informed the court that the government was ready to begin presenting its case, with four witnesses present in court.
Three witnesses from financial institutions, including Jaiz Bank, SunTrust Bank, and Providus Bank, testified and submitted documents obtained from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. These documents were admitted into evidence and subjected to cross examination by defence lawyers.
However, tension arose when the fourth witness was called. The prosecution requested that the witness be allowed to testify under strict protective conditions, including anonymity, citing security concerns linked to the nature of the terrorism related charges.
The defence team did not oppose protection in principle but argued that completely concealing the identity of the witness would violate the defendants’ right to a fair hearing. They insisted that knowing the identity of a witness is essential for effective cross examination and credibility assessment.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the prosecution had provided sufficient justification for protective measures under Section 232 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. She ruled that the witness’s identity, including name and personal details, should not be disclosed in court records or made available to the public or parties involved.
The judge further directed that special arrangements be made in court to ensure the witness could testify without exposure.
Following the ruling, proceedings were briefly adjourned to allow for security arrangements before the protected testimony began. The trial is expected to continue with additional prosecution witnesses in the coming sessions.
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