14th May, 2012
An alleged threat by a suspected terrorist to set the Police Force Headquarters Annex Lagos ablaze has been averted by operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau Headquarters, Lagos Southwest Nigeria.
The suspected terrorist is called Usman Emmanuel, 31, from Kogi State, who claimed to be a final year student of Lagos State University, (Music Department) LASU, Ojo, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria. He was arrested and arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State on a 2-count charge to commit felony to wit, threat to kill and set ablaze the Force Headquarters building.
Police investigation revealed that in November 2011, the accused and others (now at large) phoned the Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, (names withheld) in charge of Intelligence Bureau, Force Headquarters, Lagos, allegedly demanding for N2 million ransom so that they will spare his life and those of other top police officers and shelve the plan to set ablaze the Force Headquarters.
The demand and threat was allegedly sent to the police boss in 16 text messages.
But when the victim could no longer bear the incessant threat messages, he reportedly informed his boss, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Force Intelligence Bureau, who directed him to fish out the caller.
Following the directive, a team led by DSP Austin Osebose down-loaded the phone number of the suspect from a telecommunication network.
They traced the suspect to a motor park in mainland area of Lagos, after a female undercover police officer sold a dummy to him that she had a business deal for him to execute.
Immediately he came to honour the appointment, he was arrested and taken to the station.
During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the crime and led the police team to his residence at Okokomaiko area of Ojo, Lagos, where about six sim cards of different networks were recovered from him.
At the conclusion of investigation, he was charged to court for threatening to kill police officers and set ablaze the Police Force Headquarters.
The offences, DSP Raymond Odion Akhaine, the prosecutor said, are contrary to Sections 1 (2) C(ii) of the Terrorism (Prevention Act) and punishable under Sections 2(2, ii) of the Terrorism Act, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2011.
The prosecutor objected to the bail of the accused on the ground of lack of jurisdiction to try the case.
Akhaine presented before the court an application for the remand of the accused in prison, pending the receipt of legal advice from the office of the Federal Director of Public Prosecution to try the matter at the high court.
The magistrate, Mrs. A. F. O. Botoku, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison pending FDPP’s advice, but urged the police prosecutor to speed up the process and produce the FDPP’s advice within 30 days.
She adjourned the matter till 15 June 2012 for mention.
—Paul Iyoghojie