•••Blames delay in trial on legal, procedural issues
By Attah Ede
The Department of State Services (DSS) has provided an update on the prosecution of some arrested terror suspects, explaining delay in their trial on legal and procedural issues.
The terror suspects were accused of masterminding the Aug. 26, 2011 bombing of the UN building.
The Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications of the DSS,
Favour Dozie disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Dozie said that the five suspects arrested in 2016 over the attack that led to the death of 20 people and more than 70 others injured were currently being prosecuted.
According to him, the trial had been delayed for an extended period due to legal and procedural issues, including the suspects being occasionally brought to court without counsel appearing for them.
”The DSS recently requested the court to grant accelerated hearing in the case, a request Justice Emeka Nwite granted.
”On Oct. 23 and 24, a trial-within-trial was conducted, during which videos of the defendants’ confessional statements were played in the courtroom.”
Dozie added that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja would on Nov. 19 continue the trial of two terrorism suspects who were wanted internationally.
He explained that the suspects were arrested in a high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation in July by operatives of the DSS after several months of surveillance.
Dozie said that the two suspects were believed to be leaders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate.
”One of the suspects, a self-styled Emir of ANSARU, allegedly coordinated various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria.
”He is also believed to have masterminded several high-profile kidnappings and robberies, the proceeds of which were used to finance terrorism over the years.
”The second suspect, chief of staff and deputy to the first suspect is alleged to have led the so-called “Mahmudawa” cell, which operated around the Kainji National Park.
”The cell is located on the border between the states of Niger and Kwara, as well as the Republic of Benin,” Dozie said.
The DSS deputy director, public relations and strategic communication, further said that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in a statement on Aug. 16, claimed that one of the suspects received training in Libya between 2013 and 2015.
According to Dozie the training was under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria.
He said that the two suspects were being tried on a 32-count terrorism charge with one of the counts related to illegal mining.
Dozie also revealed that the DSS on Aug. 11, arraigned five suspects before a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
”The suspects arrested over the attack that led to the death of over 40 people and over 100 others injured were arraigned on a nine-count terrorism charge.
”Their charges include being members of Al Shabab terrorist group, with cell in Kogi, and carrying out the attack in furtherance of their religious ideology among others.
The Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA), in a statement issued on August 16, claimed Mamuda received training in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria. He is said to have specialised in weapons handling and IED fabrication.
Usman and Abba are being tried on a 32-count terrorism charge, and on which they were arraigned in late August.
He said in one of the counts related to illegal mining, Usman pleaded guilty and has since been sentenced to 15 years. Abba pleaded not guilty to all the 32 counts.
The DSS is also prosecuting another terror suspect, Khalid Al‑Barnawi, accused of being the mastermind of the August 26, 2011, bombing of the United Nations Complex in Abuja, in which 20 people were killed and more than 70 others injured.
