The era of Change is
bringing sanity to the justice system where fairness and equity would be the
order of the day. Hopefully, this trend of sanity would be manifested in all
institutions.
In accordance to the
report made available from premium times, a Federal High Court in Abuja has
dismissed an application by the State Security Service, SSS, to use masked
witnesses against a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who is on
trial for alleged corruption and illegal possession of firearms.
The
SSS had asked Justice Adeniyi Ademola to allow the use of masked witnesses
against Mr. Dasuki.
But
the court dismissed the application.
The
judge said the SSS had in its charges listed the names and addresses of 11
witnesses to be called to testify against Mr. Dasuki, and that the list had
been made available to the general public.
He
said there was no need therefore for witnesses’ identities to be concealed.
Mr.
Ademola also said there was no basis to all witnesses wear special masks, bear
pseudo names and addresses because the charges against Mr. Dasuki was not terrorism-related
and that there was no information that the life of any of the witnesses to be
called was being threatened by anybody of group.
Mr.
Dasuki is facing a four-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and
money laundering.
The
court on Tuesday also dismissed an application challenging his arrest and
detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The
judge also dismissed another application by Mr. Dasuki for the charge on
possession of firearms to be dropped.
Mr.
Dasuki had described the charge as illegal and a breach of his right.
In
his ruling, however, Mr. Ademola held that Mr. Dasuki had the legal right to
challenge the proceedings of the court if he felt unsatisfied with its
proceedings.
He
however noted that the case would not be stopped, as pleaded by Mr. Dasuki,
since the former NSA had no cogent reason for the application.
