BOKO HARAM SUSPECTS GET BAIL

As a cross-section of Nigerians lament over the escape from custody of Mr. Kabir Sokoto, a Boko Haram suspect allegedly involved in the Christmas day bombing of a Catholic church in Madalla, Niger state which claimed over 40 lives, a Federal High Court siting in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail to six members of the dreaded Islamic sect who are standing trial over the bombing of the Suleja, Niger state office of the Independent National Election Commission, INEC.

The court presided over by Justice Bilkisu Aliyu granted the suspected terrorists bail in the sum of N2 million each and two sureties in like sum.

The court ordered that the sureties must be Grade Level 12 Civil servants working under the Federal Government or the Federal Capital Territory Authority.

Justice Aliyu also ordered that the sureties must be residents of the Federal Capital Territory whose status must be confirmed and verified by the State Security Service, SSS.

One of the lawyers who represented some of the suspected bombers, Mr. Nureeni Suleiman described the bail conditions as too stringent and vowed to file an application for variation in the bail conditions to enable his clients regain their freedom while their trial continues.

The suspects were further remanded in prison custody pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions while their trial was adjourned till 7 February.

The suspected extremists who were brought to court under a very tight security are Shuaibu Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana Umar, Mohammed Ali, Musa Adam and Umar Ibrahim.

They are being charged with committing terrorist acts through the explosion of improvised devices variously at Suleja, Bwari and Nasarawa state, an offence that is contrary to Section 15 (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Act 2004.

By virtue of Section 15 (2) of the EFCC Act, the accused persons are liable to life imprisonment on conviction.

Counts 1, 2 and 3 contained in the suit, FHC/ABJ/CR/113/11 read as follows: “That you, Shuaibu Abubakar (Alias Abu Quatada), Salisu Ahmed, Musa Adam, Umar Babagana Umar, and Umar Ibrahim on or about the 8th day of April, 2011 at Suleja, Niger state – within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an act of terrorism by planting at the Office of the Independent National Election Commission, Suleja, an improvised explosive device which exploded there and causing the death of 16 persons and damage to public property and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( Establishment Etc.) Act 2004 and punishable under the same Act 2004.

“That you Shuaibu Abubakar (alias Abu Quatada, Salisu Ahmed , and Musa Adam on the 3rd day of March, 2011 at Suleja, Niger state within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an act of terrorism by causing the explosion of improvised device at a political rally in Suleja which resulted in the death of three persons and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment Etc.) Act 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

“That you, Shuaibu Abubakar (Alias Abu Quatada), Salisu Ahmed, Musa Adam, Umar Babagana Umar, Mohammed Ali, and Umar Ibrahim on or about the 23rd day of May, 2011 at Dakna Village, Bwari within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an act of terrorism by causing the explosion of improvised explosive device which resulted in the death of three Peace Officers and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) of the EFCC (Establishment Etc.) Act 2004 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.”

—Nnamdi Felix / Abuja