AfriPulse
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday granted the Department of State Services (DSS) request for the accelerated trial of a commander of a terror group, Khalid Al-Barnawi, and four others.
The defendants were arraigned by the Federal Government for the August 26, 2011, bombing of the United Nations Building in Abuja.
At least 20 people died and 76 others were injured in the attack, the first on an international organisation in Nigeria.
The DSS arrested Al-Barnawi in Lokoja, Kogi State, in April 2016.
He is standing trial on terrorism related charges along with other suspected members of his group.
Other defendants are Mohammed Bashir Saleh; Umar Mohammed Bello, a.k.a Datti; Mohammed Salisu and Yakubu Nuhu, a.k.a Bello Maishayi.
They were arraigned for being members of the Ansaru terrorist group, also known as Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan.
The judge granted the request after the DSS lawyer, Alex Iziyon (SAN), told the court that the service was prepared for the expeditious determination of the case.
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In the application, which was not opposed by the defendants’ counsel, the parties would be allowed to watch video recordings presented by the DSS to prove that the extrajudicial statements given by the suspects were made voluntarily, as against the claim of some of the defendants.
It was agreed that the video clips would be played in the presence of the court registrar, and parties would take notes, after which they would return to the court on the next adjourned date.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter till October 23 and October 24 for continuation of the trial-within-trial.
Source: RipplesNigeria | Read the Full Story…
