5 arraigned in court for Nyanya, Kuje bombings

Five members of Boko Haram who were arrested for detonating bombs in Nyanya and Kuje on October 2 that killed scores of people and maimed several others were yesterday arraigned before the federal high court in Abuja on 5 counts terrorism charges.

The accused persons: Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu, Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulwaheed Nasiru and Abdullahi Nasiru pleaded not guilty to the charges except Mohammed Jimoh who pleaded guilty to count 5 only.

The director of public prosecution Mohammed Saidu Diri told the court that 12 ready made bombs and bomb making devices comprising 27 detonators, allumnium powder, Hexomine, Hydrogene Peroxide, Sulphure Power, Sodium Axide plus Nitrate, soldering wire, Sodium Carbonate, Thermometer, PH Litmus paper and a bag of fertilizers were alos found in their possession on October 6.

Diri said that investigation on the crime allegedly committed by the accused persons has been completed and that his team was ready for prosecution.

But pleaded with the trial Justice Abdulkadiri AbdulKafarati to oblige his prosecution team a short adjournment to assemble his witnesses and exhibits for the trial.

Attempt by the defence lawyer Mr Nureni Sulyman to apply for bail of the accused person orally was unsuccessful.

They were charged with conspiring contrary to section 17 of the Terrorism prevention Amendment Act 2013, act of terrorism contrary to section 2(a) of the same Act, act preparatory to an act of terrorism contrary to section 2(b) of the same act and accessory to an act of terrorism contrary to section 2(g) of the same act also.

Count one of the charge read “That you Abdulzeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu, Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulawaheed Nasiru, Abdullahi Nasiru and others (now at large) on or about the 2nd October, 2015 at Kuje town and Jikwoyi Park, Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja conspired amongst yourselves to carry out a bomb attack by the use of Improvised Explosives Devices being an act punishable under section 17 of Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.

“That you Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu, Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulwaheed Nasiru, Abdullahi Nasiru and others (now at large) on or about the 2nd October, 2015 at Jikwoyi Park in Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja did carry out a bomb attack using Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) which resulted in the death of scores of innocent citizens and many others sustained various degree of injuries as well as destroying properties being an act punishable under section 2 (a) of Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013”.

“That you Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu, Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulwaheed Nasiru, Abdullahi Nasiru and others (now at large) on or about the 2nd October, 2015 at Kuje town in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja did carry out a bomb attack using Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) which resulted in the death of scores of innocent citizens and many others sustained various degree of injuries as well as destroying properties being an act punishable under section 2 (a) of Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.”

Justice Abdulkafarati then remanded the accused persons in Kuje prisons and adjourned the trial to November 17 and 24, 2015.