Sowore’s Trial: Falana Rejects Move By DSS To Hide Identity Of Witnesses

A move by the Department of State Services (DSS) to protect the identity of its witnesses in the ongoing trial of Omoyele Sowore was rejected by the latter’s counsel, Femi Falana, on Wednesday.

Sowore who has been in custody of the DSS for months had been charged to court by the state security service for offences bordering on alleged treason, among others.

The Sahara Reporters publisher was taken into custody over a plan to stage what he called the “RevolutionNow” protest against the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

At the court on Wednesday, Falana told the trial judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, that the prosecution counsel Hassan Liman connived with the court’s deputy chief registrar to shield identity of witnesses of the DSS without formal application.

“The learned prosecutor applied behind us to the DCR to have all witnesses taken in camera. They have already brought a protective screen to the court and set it up before we came in,” he said.

“He approached me this morning that he would like the witnesses to come in through the judge’s door. He also said it had already been arranged that the witness box and the defendant’s box be swapped.”

The deputy chief registrar corroborated Falana’s claim when called upon by Justice Ojukwu to speak.

The prosecution, however, explained that they had planned on making a formal application to the court for witness protection, saying they only submitted an advance notice to the court’s deputy chief registrar.

The case was adjourned till December 5 for continuation of trial.