The Federal High Court Abuja yesterday granted the Federal Government’s application to seeking to shield the name and identity of a serving officer who is one of its witnesses in the ongoing trial of six suspected coup plotters.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the application after taking arguments from the prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) and the defence lawyers. The Federal Government filed 13 charges against the defendants.

The suspects are retired Major Gen. Mohammed Gana, retired Capt. Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani. Although former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva is not named as a defendant in the charges, he is listed as being at large.

The defendants were accused of alleged treason and terrorism, including failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing, among other charges.

The defendants, who were arraigned on April 22, pleaded not guilty to all the counts. When the case was called for the commencement of trial yesterday, Oyedepo told the court that four witnesses were present and the prosecution was ready to proceed.

Three witnesses from Jaiz Bank, SunTrust Bank and Providus Bank respectively gave their evidence. They tendered letters obtained from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through the prosecution lawyer. Justice Abdulmalik admitted the letters in evidence, marked them as exhibits and the witnesses responded to questions under cross-examination by defence lawyers.