Lawyers, litigants and journalists were ordered to vacate the courtroom of the Federal High Court in Abuja where the trial of a suspected terrorist collaborator, Tukur Mamu, was held on Friday, July 21, 2023, ordered
The counsel from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), E.A Kaswe, who is prosecuting the case on behalf of the Federal Government’s told the court that their witnesses were in court for the trial when the matter was called.
He then urged the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo to enforce the order granted to the prosecution earlier when the matter came up.
“May I humbly ask the court to enforce the order granted for all parties not party to the suit to vacate the court,” Kaswe requested.
Justice Ekwo granted his request, ordering everyone to vacate the court, except parties in the suit.
Recall that Justice Ekwo had, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, granted an application by the Federal Government (FG) to protect witnesses lined up in the prosecution of Mamu, who is being tried over his alleged relationship with terrorists that were involved in a 2022 attack on a Kaduna-bound train.
The judge granted the application following an ex-parte motion moved by Kaswe to the effect.
Moving the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/96/2023, Kaswe said the application dated May 11, 2023, was filed on June 15, 2023.
He said the motion was brought pursuant to Section 36(4), (A), (B) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 232 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, including Section 73 (1), (2) (C) and (4) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In the motion, the Federal Government prayed for four orders.
“An order of this Honourable Court excluding persons other than parties and their legal representatives at the hearing of the above-named charge except members of the accredited press.
“An order of this Honourable Court vacating the courtroom whenever the prosecution witnesses are coming to testify.
“An order of this Honourable Court shielding the physical identity of the prosecution witnesses by wearing facial masks and or the use of screen whenever prosecution witnesses are testifying.
“An order of this Honourable Court directing the use of pseudo names by prosecution witnesses and deleting the real names and addresses of prosecution witnesses throughout the proceedings of this case.”
Mamu, an arrested terrorists’ negotiator, was, on March 21, 2023, arraigned by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on 10 counts bordering on terrorism financing, especially on the recent Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges
