Reporters covering the trial of suspended DCP Abba Kyari and others were denied entrance to the location of the trial, Court 10 of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order in response to an appeal by Mr. Sunday Joseph, the lawyer for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Joseph, a director of the NDLEA’s Legal and Prosecution Department, had previously requested that the identity of a witness testifying in the trial be protected.
During Tuesday’s session, the lawyer asked the court not to allow any other counsel, visitors, litigants, or journalists into the courtroom.
Justice Nwite then halted the proceedings to allow non-parties in the anti-narcotics case against the suspended police personnel to leave the courtroom.