Counter-terrorism boss seeks protection for judges, witnesses in terrorism cases

Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), has called for protection of witnesses and judges who play pivotal roles in investigation, prosecution and adjudication of terrorism related cases.

Laka made the call at a Two-Day Workshop and Plenary of the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) Criminal Justice and Rule of Law (CJ-ROL) Working Group (WG) in Abuja.

The meeting is Co-Chaired by Nigeria through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Italy with the theme, “Good Practices for the Protection of Witnesses and Criminal Justice Officials.”

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Laka said the fight against terrorism and organised crime in Nigeria, like many other nations, had presented multifaceted challenges that demanded unwavering dedication and collective action.

He called on countries under the umbrella of the GCTF to harness the power of collaboration and cooperation in advancing their shared goals of Justice, security and peace.

According to him, it is imperative to ensure protection of witnesses and criminal justice officials who play pivotal roles in investigation, prosecution and adjudication of terrorism related cases.

“Criminal justice officials, including prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officers, face significant risks as they fulfill their duties in the pursuit of justice.

“It behooved on all to prioritize the development and implementation of effective strategies to safeguard witnesses and Justice Officials, thereby ensuring their safety, well-being, and continued participation in the criminal justice process,” he said.

NCTC boss said that Nigeria had remained a co-chair of the GCTF CJ-ROL WG since 2017, adding that Nigeria co-chaired with Switzerland from 2017-2022 and currently with Italy from 2022-2024.

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He said the latest joint mandate between Nigeria and Italy had been extended from 2024-2026.

According to him, the working group seeks to identify relevant civilian counter terrorism challenges and capacity gaps.

“It also considers activities to address the gaps, as well as to mobilize political will, financial resources and expertise”, he said.

(NAN)