Nigerian court orders secret trial for terrorism suspects

Nnamdi Felix / Abuja

Two Nigerians suspected to be members of an Iranian terrorist organization were on Thursday denied bail by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

The terror suspects were arraigned on a 6-count charge of terrorism offences between 2011 and 2012 in the Middle East and Lagos, south west Nigeria.

They both pleaded “not guilty” to the charge and subsequently applied for bail.

In his ruling, Justice Ramat Mohammed held that the charge against the accused persons bordered on acts of terrorism which pose great danger to Nigeria’s national security.

Furthermore, the court held that the suspects have not placed sufficient materials before it nor had they adduced sufficient reasons to enable the court exercise its discretion in their favour.

In denying them bail, the court pointed out that the suspects had hinged their bail application on the ruling of an Ilorin division of Federal High Court as well as that of the FCT High court which dwelled on their application for the enforcement of their fundamental rights, where the courts had made some orders against their imprisonment without trial and noted that those cases are quite different from the instant case which is a criminal charge.

Even though one of the accused persons. Mr. Saheed Adewumi, had cited health grounds in his bail application, Justice Mohammed said the suspect failed to show that his ailment was contagious and poses danger to other detainees.

in addition, Justice Mohammed granted the application of the prosecuting counsel, Mrs Chioma Onuegbu, who sought for an order excluding persons other than the suspects, their immediate family members and accredited members of the press from the trial.

Suspect Saheed Adewumi had opposed the application on the ground that he was paraded by the SSS alongside his co-accused, Mr. Abdullahi Berende, in the presence of the media which led to the mass circulation of his pictures and images which led to concerns by his business associates and partners who consistently called his wife severally to express concern over his alleged crimes.

He expressed his desire for the whole world to be part of the trial so that the outcome will be equally publicized, just like his earlier parade.

On this score, the court noted that the suspect’s desire for the public to be aware of the trial and its outcome does not over ride the need to protect the identity of the witnesses.

The court observed that the prosecution had made a successful argument on the issue and thereafter granted an order that addresses of prosecution witnesses and their identities be kept secret to avoid being attacked by members of the terrorist organization, adding that names of witnesses would be represented with alphabets.

The court assured the suspects that the presence of the press in the trial will afford the general public opportunity to follow proceedings in the trial

On suspect Abdullahi Berende’s request to be transfered from the SSS facility to a prison, the court also declined the request having observed that the suspect failed to contradict the affidavit evidence tendered by the SSS showing that his statement on denial of access to his family members by SSS was false as nobody ever showed up to see him since his arrest and detention.

The court ordered that the alleged terror suspects be remanded in the custody of the SSS till the end of their trial and directed the security agency to allow the accused lawyers unfettered access to their clients to enable them prepare their defence.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to October 22-24.

The suspects were alleged to have, between September 2011 and December 2012, in Tehran; Iran, supported terrorism acts by involving in training on use of dangerous weapons and fire arms with the intent of perpetrating terrorism crimes in Nigeria, contrary to Section 5 (1) (a) of Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 and punishable under Section 5(1) same Act.

Count two of the charge alleged that Abdullahi, while in Iran, had information of a plot to commit terrorism acts but concealed such information from security operatives, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 as amended.

Count three further alleged that Abdullahi at Tehran and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, collected foreign currencies in US Dollars, Euros etc denominations to aid and abate the commission of terrorism acts, contrary to Section 13(1) (a) of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 and punishable under the same Act.

Abdullahi was also accused of recruiting persons for an Iranian terrorist organization, an offence said to have violated section 10 of the Terrorism Prevention Act.