The federal government has filed an application at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, seeking to mask witnesses who will testify in the trial of the arrowhead of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoleye Sowore and his co-defendant, Mr. Olawale Bakare.
The two men are standing trial for treasonable felony, fraud, cyber stalking, among others in the case prosecuted by the office of the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice.
In a motion on notice filed on March 5 by counsel for the prosecution, Mr. A. K. Alilu, the federal government said the witnesses were afraid to testify or give evidence in the open, unless they were protected, for fear of being murdered by the defendants, their cohorts or members of the #Revolution Now protest group across the country.
It also stated in a supporting affidavit that the intention to shield the witnesses was informed among others, by the fact that the defendants were being tried for serious offences that could attract life imprisonment on conviction.
The prosecution therefore applied for “an order of this honourable court excluding person’s other than parties and their legal representatives with the exception of the accredited members of the press at the hearing of the above-named charge.
It also sought “an order of this honourable court directing that the courts should be vacated whenever the prosecution witnesses are coming to testify in the screen to be masked and that only the trial Judge, parties and their legal representatives with the exception of the accredited members of the press will see the witnesses when they are testifying.”
Besides, it applied for “an order of the honourable court directing that the real names and addresses of prosecution witnesses in the proceedings shall not be disclosed”.
The case was adjourned to March 11 when the motion will be heard.
