A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday struck out the two count criminal charge bothering on terrorism filed by the police against the key suspect of the April 14, 2014 Nyanya bomb blast, Aminu Ogwuche, in the Federal Capital Territory.
No fewer than 75 people lost their lives in the blast, while several others were injured.
The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, while striking out the charge, cited lack of diligent prosecution on the part of the police for the action.
The police, the judge observed, had been absent in court two consecutive times.
The suspect, Ogwuche, is however to remain in the custody of the Department of State Services till December 5 when the court will hear the application filed by his counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), seeking to enforce his fundamental human rights.
It would be recalled that during the initial stage of the trial, there was disagreement between the DSS and the Police on who should prosecute Ogwuche.
It was however agreed that the Attorney General of the Federation will prosecute the accused, but no charge has been filed from the AGF’s office, though the Director of Public Prosecution is always in attendance in court.
At the last adjourned date, the court ordered the DSS to produce Ogwuche in court.
When hearing in the case resumed on Monday, the DSS brought the accused person, but he was not arraigned due to the absence of the police.
Counsel to Ugwuche made an oral application to the court for an order granting the accused person access to his lawyer, family members and his doctor.
Counsel to the DSS, Clifford Osaghie, did not oppose the prayer that the accused’s lawyer and family should visit him.
Osaghie only objected to allowing a doctor to visit him, pointing out that the DSS has a standard clinic and in the event of any illness, the accused will be referred to the National Hospital.
The court directed that the accused person should be granted access to three lawyers, and two of his family members – his wife and brother.
The court added that the service should ensure adequate medical treatment be administered on the accused and in the event of any illness, he should be taken to the National Hospital for treatment.
The court later adjourned till December 5 for hearing of the accused person’s request.
The accused person hinged the application seeking to enforce his fundamental right on the ground that the DSS has kept him for too long without arraigning him.
The two count charge filed on behalf of the IGP by Oloye Torugbene, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, alleged the suspect conspired with others (at large) to commit an act of terrorism by detonating improvised explosive devices at Nyanya Motor Park, which resulted in the death of 75 persons and injuring over 100 others.
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, Male, and others now at large, on the 14th of April, 2014 at Nyanya, FCT, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did facilitate the activities of persons engaged in an act of terrorism.”http://theeagleonline.com.ng/judge-strikes-out-charges-against-mastermind-of-nyanya-bomb-blast/
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