Charges Against Allege Nyanya Bomber Cross Out

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, struck-out the three-count terrorism charge against Aminu Ogwuche, the alleged mastermind of the April 14, 2014 bomb blast that killed more than 75 persons and injured 120 others at a crowded motor park in Nyanya Abuja.

The charge was entered against him by the Inspector-General of Police.

In his ruling yesterday, Justice Ademola Adeniyi struck out the matter for want of diligent prosecution by the police.

However, the court gave the Department of State Services, DSS, the nod to retain the accused person in its custody until December 5 when it will hear an application seeking his release on bail.

While adjourning the matter, Justice Adeniyi directed the DSS to allow a team of three lawyers representing the accused person; his wife and one of his family members to periodically visit him in the detention cell.

The court further ordered that the accused be given medical attention and treatment in custody, adding that the DSS should not hesitate to transfer him to the National Hospital should the need arise.

Plans to arraign Ogwuche on September 26 failed because of bickering between the DSS and Police over which of them should be allowed to conduct the trial.

Following a heated argument that ensued between lawyers from the two security agencies, Justice Adeniyi adjourned to enable the Federal Government put its house in order.

The government had in its bid to expedite the process of extraditing the accused person from Sudan where he fled to shortly after the terrorist attack, entered the three-count charge that was struck out yesterday.

DSS, Police fight for control

The charge which was endorsed by the IGP was still pending before the court when the accused person was successfully extradited to the country with the help of the Interpol in Sudan.

Meanwhile, upon taking custody of the accused person, the DSS approached the court for an order permitting it to retain him in detention until conclusion of investigations into the matter.

Following the DSS application which was filed before another judge of the high court, the agency was granted 90 days to conduct and conclude its investigations.

Though Police lawyer, Mr. Oloye Torugbene, had on July 9, made frantic efforts to dock the accused person, he was opposed by the DSS lawyer, Mr. Clifford Osagie, who drew the attention of the court to the 90 days order of the sister court, noting that the investigative period had yet to elapse.

Osagie urged the Police to withdraw the pending charge, which he said was only drafted for the purpose of extraditing the accused person to the country, a request that was ignored.

Vanguard