– Kanu’s counsel kicks against secret trial
– Judge yet to give judgement
The State Security Services (SSS) on Tuesday, February 9, applied for a secret trial of the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu.
File photo of Nnamdi Kanu in court during one of his trials
At hearing, the prosecuting counsel, Mohammed Diri prayed that the court allow the SSS protect its witnesses throughout the trial.
But in his objection, the defense counsel, Chuks Muoma said it will be wrong to permit a secret trial.
Muoma said his client is not charged for terrorism and that the court is a public place although he added that sympathizers of the defendants had constantly been restricted from court by security agents.
He said since there is adequate security in place, the issue of secret trial does not arise.
Muoma also applied to the court to release money ($2,200 and N87,000) and two passports – Nigerian and British – collected from the first defendant.
“My lord, it is undesirable to kill a man and hack his bones, the defendant is in a maximum security prison and these materials are not needed to prosecute this case,” Muoma said.
However, objecting, Diri said he conceded for an adjournment for the defense counsel to file his application for the protection of witnesses.
He also opposed the application demanding for the release of the money and passports of the first defendant.
“My lord, it is undesirable to kill a man and hack his bones, the defendant is in a maximum security prison and these materials are not needed to prosecute this case,” Muoma said.
However, objecting, Diri said he conceded for an adjournment for the defense counsel to file his application for the protection of witnesses.
He also opposed the application demanding for the release of the money and passports of the first defendant.
“My lord, I vehemently oppose the application by my learned colleague for the release of some evidences by the prosecution the the defense,” Diri said.
He said the items listed, if not used in court by the prosecution will be released to the defendant.
He said contrary to applying to the court, the defense counsel should make a request to the attorney general of the federation for the release of those documents.
“Your lordship, secondly as with as with the passports, the proof of evidence that is before this honourable court indicates that, despite the fact that the first defendant carries Nigerian and British passport, he sneaked into the territory of the federal republic of Nigeria without any of them,” he added.
Diri said the passports as relevant as evidence before the court.
But in his reply, Muoma said attached to the charge are statements of prosecution witnesses.
“My lord, there is no money, no dollars, no naira and no passports attached to this charge,” the defense counsel said.
He said the in the list of 70 evidences listed under oath, the documents his team are asking for were not listed.
READ ALSO: IPOB accuses APC of plotting against Kanu
He also noted that after charge and arraignment all documents and placed in custody of the court not otherwise
He said: “My lord, we cannot be applying to the prosecutor for the release of these documents.”
He said it would amount of court to approach the prosecution for the release of those documents.
As at the time of filing this report, the judge was writing his judgement on the applications and objections made by the counsels.
No comments:
Post a Comment