The Federal High Court in Abuja has commenced a trial-within-trial to examine allegations of coercion and intimidation raised by defendants standing trial over the 2011 bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja.
At Friday’s proceedings, counsel for both the prosecution and defence informed the court that they had jointly reviewed video recordings of the defendants’ interrogation sessions in the presence of court officials.
The Department of State Services (DSS) also told the court that masked witnesses would testify during the trial-within-trial to address claims that the defendants’ statements were obtained under duress.
The development follows Justice Emeka Nwite’s earlier ruling granting the DSS’s request for an accelerated hearing in the terrorism case, which has lingered for years.
The case involves Khalid Al-Barnawi, alleged mastermind of the August 26, 2011, UN building bombing that killed over 20 people and injured more than 70 others.
Al-Barnawi, who was arrested by the DSS in Lokoja, Kogi State, in 2016, is accused of leading a faction of the Boko Haram terrorist group known as Ansaru.
Justice Nwite adjourned further hearing to continue the trial-within-trial proceedings.
