The Federal Government, yesterday, urged a federal high court sitting in Abuja to allow it to conduct the trial of Dr Mohammed Nazeef Yunus, a lecturer at the Kogi State University and other suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, in secret.
In an application he filed yesterday, government prosecutor, Mr. Tolu Ogunshina, urged presiding Justice Gabriel Kolawole to in line with the provisions of sections 36 (4) (a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); Section 203 of the Criminal Procedure Act and Sections 33 and 34 of Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013, bar members of the public from attending the trial of the terror suspects.
Others the government wants to be tried secretly included Alhaji Salami Abdullahi and Umar Musa, who were both accused of belonging to a cell of the Boko Haram sect situated at Igala land in Kogi State.
Dr. Yunus who is a graduate of Islamic University of Medina, Saudi Arabia, was said to be the spiritual leader of the cell.
In its motion, FG prayed the court to order that other than the immediate family members and legal representatives of the accused persons, with the exception of accredited members of the press, no other person should be allowed in court when full-blown trial of the suspects begins on March 18.
