The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate allegations that evidence presented by the prosecution in the alleged coup plot trial was leaked and circulated on social media.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order on Tuesday, directing the DSS to determine whether the release of the materials breached the court’s earlier directive on the protection of witnesses and to identify those responsible if a violation was established.
The judge said the investigation should run concurrently with the trial, noting that the defendants had denied any involvement in the alleged leak through their lawyers.
Earlier, prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that he received information that some video exhibits tendered in the case were posted on social media by a user known as Very Dark Man, who was present in court.
Oyedepo urged the court to order an investigation to establish how the materials got into the possession of the individual.
In response, the six defence lawyers denied involvement in the alleged leak. Some of them requested that the prosecution file a formal application and affidavit to enable them to respond appropriately.
The court subsequently proceeded with the hearing of the defendants’ bail applications.
While the defence counsel urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms, the prosecution opposed the request.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to June 25 and June 30 for the first, second and third defendants to present their cases in the trial-within-trial, while the fourth, fifth and sixth defendants are scheduled to do so on July 1 and July 2.
The court also fixed July 20 for ruling on the bail applications.
Earlier, the prosecution presented its fourth witness in the trial-within-trial, which is aimed at determining whether statements made by the defendants were obtained voluntarily.
The witness, identified as “DDD”, told the court that the statements were voluntarily made and that the defendants were not subjected to torture, harassment or coercion.
He denied claims that the defendants were chained during interrogation, saying they walked into the interview room on their own.
The witness also said none of the defendants requested the presence of their lawyers, family members, officials of the Legal Aid Council or a Justice of the Peace during questioning.
Under cross-examination, he maintained that the defendants were neither tortured nor forced to make the statements.
Following the conclusion of the witness’ testimony, Oyedepo closed the prosecution’s case in the trial-within-trial after calling four witnesses.
Report states that the six defendants are standing trial over allegations of involvement in a plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.
SOURCE: NAN
