May 16, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, barred journalists from covering proceedings of illicit drug trial of Abba Kyari, a suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP), and others.
The judge, Emeka Nwite, gave the order following an application to the effect by Sunday Joseph, counsel for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Joseph, a director of the Legal and Prosecution Department of the NDLEA, had applied for the protection of the witness listed to give evidence in the trial.
He prayed the court that other lawyers, litigants, and visitors, including journalists, who were in the court should not be allowed to be in the courtroom while the hearing lasted.
The application, he said was to give protection to intelligence officers scheduled to testify in the case adding that the witnesses cannot be exposed to the public.
Joseph, who said “There is a doctrine of state privilege in the interest of national security”, added that it had been observed that members of the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) who were loyal to Kyari were still coming to court.
“And you don’t know who is who; so, it is for the witness’ protection. We are now going into the nitty-gritty of the matter and there have been allegations that we are just witch-hunting them”, he said.
