Court grants DSS request to shield identities of witnesses in trial of Al-Shabab terrorists
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the request of the Department of State Service, DSS, to shield the identities of the witnesses that would give evidence in the trial of the five alleged Al-Shabab terrorists involved in the June 5, 2022 attack at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, in which over 40 worshippers died.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the request on Tuesday while delivering in an ex-parte application filed and argued by the DSS.
A legal practitioner, Dr. C. S. Eze, who argued the application on behalf of the DSS, predicated it on the need to protect the witnesses from possible attacks.
He argued that terrorism cases are so sensitive that witnesses must be protected on order of the court.
Having not opposed, Justice Nwite granted the request and ordered the DSS not to reveal names and identities of those to testify in the matter.
The five accused persons are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.
