Trial of Senator Ndume: Court stops 2 unlisted SSS witnesses from testifying

Ndume, a serving Senator from Borno, is standing trial for alleged links with Boko Haram.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole, who presided over the case, refused to allow Mr Aliyu Usman, an SSS operative to testify on account of an objection raised by Mr Rickey Tarfa, counsel to the accused.

The objection barred the second witness, who was not named.

Kolawole, who expressed anger at the attempt by the Mr Thompson Olatigbe, the prosecution counsel, to present unlisted witnesses, said it was against the rules of the court.


``From the beginning of this case, the court has been the one prompting the prosecutor. A criminal case requires diligent prosecution.

``Justice is not only meant for the accuser, both the accused and the public require justice.

``In the light of today’s anomaly, the court is compelled to grant leave to the prosecutor to file additional proof of evidence to include the names of the witnesses.

 ``The prosecution counsel is thereby given 14 days within which to file additional proof of evidence and to serve the counsel to the accused,’’ Kolawole said.


Earlier at the resumed hearing in the case, Olatigbe informed the court of the readiness of the prosecutor to present its two witnesses.

Tarfa immediately raised an objection, as according to him, the officers were not listed in the proof of evidence before the court.

He submitted that the prosecutor used the leverage of being a government apparatus to stampede the court with unlisted witnesses.

Tarfa urged the court to reject the move by the prosecutor to smuggle in people not initially included in the matter.

The judge adjourned the matter to Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 for continuation of trial