October 1 bomb meant to rattle government

Nnamdi Felix / Abuja

Trial of one of the alleged masterminds of the Independence Day twin bomb blasts in Abuja, Mr. Edmund Ebiware, resumed on Thursday before a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole.

At the proceedings, a prosecution witness, Mr Wasiu Agbaje, who testified at the trial told the court that the main goal of the masterminds of the explosion was simply to “shake the nation” and create confusion in government.

The witness who is a principal technical officer at the Communication Intelligence Department of the State Security Services, also released the transcripts of text messages extracted from two phones seized from Mr. Ebiware, which linked notable individuals in the country including the Chairman of a private broadcast outfit.

He also told the court that bombing of Abuja during the 2010 Independence Day celebration was planned for months before the bomber struck.

According to the witness, the text messages extracted from Mr. Ebiware’s phones and the time the messages were sent, informed his conclusions.

At the last adjourned date of the trial, a star prosecution witness whose name was concealed for security reasons, had fingered immediate past Governor of Bayelsa state, Chief Timpre Sylva as having foreknowledge of the bombing.

The former governor however debunked the allegation immediately.

The witness who was simply identified as Mr “X” also testified for the State Security Service, SSS, who is prosecuting all the accused persons in the matter.

It is recalled that a number of suspects were arrested after the twin bomb blasts but only four suspects were charged to court over allegation of levying war against the State in order to intimidate President Goodluck Jonathan, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 37(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 77 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990.

The accused persons are Edmund Ebiware, Charles Okah, Obi Nwabueze and Tiemkemfa Osuvwo,

Mr. Ebiware was specifically accused of withholding information on the planned attack by not using reasonable means to leak the information to the President and security agents to foil the planned attack.

They were also accused of terrorism and conspiracy to commit treason, contrary to Section 40 (2) of the Criminal Code CAP 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990.

One of the four, Mr. Tiemkemfa Osuvwo, later died in detention.

Although Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze are still challenging the charge against them, Ebiware applied for separate trial, saying he wanted his case heard and determined.