Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has slammed the Federal Government for attempting to secretly try the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

The Federal Government had in the trial of Kanu for charges bordering on treason, requested for a secret trial at a Federal High court in Abuja.

Reacting to the reports, Fayose described the attempt by the Federal Government to bring in masquerades as witnesses, as a mockery of the democracy that brought the government to power.

Fayose, in a statement released by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, urged Nigerians to force the president, Muhammadu Buhari to rid himself of the blood and water of dictatorship which still flows in his veins.

The statement said: “It is shameful that the Federal Government could approach the court for witnesses in a criminal matter it is prosecuting to wear mask and be seen through screen.”

The statement questioned the genuinity of the witnesses which the Federal Government intends to parade during the trial as well as the intentions of the Federal Government in requesting for a secret trial.

“They want Kanu tried secretly. They also want the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) tried secretly. What are they afraid of? How can the Federal Government ask the court to allow ‘ojuju calabar’ (masquerade) as prosecution witnesses when we are not under military rule?”

“How would such witnesses be cross-examined by defence lawyers and can their real identity be ascertained?

“Should anyone make allegations that he cannot be bold enough to defend in the law court? Why are the witnesses afraid to testify in an open court if truly they are witnesses of truth?

“Clearly, this is mockery of democracy and the rule of law and Nigerians should know that it is their duty to purge President Buhari of dictatorship.”

Fayose questioned the Federal Government’s need for a secret trial if there was no plan to subvert justice and present witnesses that would only commit perjury. He however, commended the judiciary for standing against the dictatorship of President Buhari.

“As it is now, only the judiciary can save Nigeria from the full-blown dictatorship that this Buhari-led APC government has become.
“Interestingly, they are not even sparing the bench from their regime of blackmail and dictatorship, and it has become necessary for our men of the bench to continue to stand firm against enemies of democracy and rule of law.”