Terrorism: Suleja Bomb Suspects Move To Thwart Trial

Suspects arrested in connection with the 2011 bombing of Independent National Electoral Commission’s office in Suleja, Niger State, who are standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday moved to abort their trial.

They told the court that they intend to make a no case submission on the 5-count charge bordering on terrorism which the federal government brought against them.

A no case submission is usually brought when an accused person believes that the prosecution has failed to prove the ingredients of the offence for which he is charged or in a situation where the evidence led in the case was such that a judge cannot convict the accused.

Counsel to the accused persons, Mr. Nureni Sulyman, informed the court that he wanted to move the application for the no case submission orally but the presiding judge,

Justice Bilikisu Aliyu, directed him to file the application formally.

The accused persons are Shuaibu Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana, Mohammed Ali, Musa Adamu and Umar Ibrahim.

They were also alleged to have caused the death of several persons through the use of improvised explosive devices at a political rally and at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Suleja and Dakwa village in Bwari Area Council of Abuja.

Meanwhile, the court  admitted a black Honda Civic car with registration number AG 94 NMG in which three of the suspects were arrested as exhibit in the matter.

Two hundred pieces of improvised explosive devices, IEDs, which were admitted in evidence at the last sitting, were said to have been recovered from the car after three of the suspects were arrested in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The suspects confirmed the car belonged to them.

Justice Aliyu subsequently adjourned further hearing till 6 and 7 of February to hear the application for the no case submission.

—Nnamdi Felix/Abuja