tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730596987387960387.post5877708927841127180..comments2023-10-03T10:06:43.840-07:00Comments on ICHEOKU: ABUJA BOMB BLAST, A BLAST AIDED BY AND MIRED IN GROSS INCOMPETENCE!EBEKUOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12634012877434160861noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730596987387960387.post-83708137475730066712010-10-21T23:43:30.031-07:002010-10-21T23:43:30.031-07:00Govt begins secret trial of blasts suspects
FRIDAY...Govt begins secret trial of blasts suspects<br />FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2010 00:00 FROM LEMMY UGHEGBE, ABUJA (WITH AGENCY REPORTS) NEWS - NATIONAL <br />User Rating: / 0 <br />PoorBest <br /><br />Denies lawyers, journalists coverage of case<br />Okah bought cars used in attacks, says prosecution <br />THE State Security Service (SSS) relived the dark days of military dictatorship in Nigeria yesterday when its operatives began the secret prosecution of seven persons linked with the twin bomb blasts in Abuja before a Chief Magistrate’s Court. The attacks near Nigeria’s 50th Independence anniversary celebration grounds in Abuja on October 1 claimed 12 persons.<br />As early as 6.00 a.m., heavily armed security agents and SSS operatives took over the court located in Wuse Zone 6 and its environs and barred the public from witnessing the proceedings. <br />In South Africa, the prosecution in the continued trial of Henry Okah over the Abuja blasts, told the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday that the accused instructed his co-conspirators to buy the two cars used in the bombings.<br />The prosecutor, Shaun Abrahams, said: “Prior to the detonation of the two improvised explosive devices on October 1 in Abuja, two vehicles, namely a Honda and a Mazda 626 were bought in Lagos on the instruction of Okah, by persons complicit in the crime.” <br />With the Abuja trial area well secured, a team of senior officers of the SSS amongst them, an Assistant Director, Marilyn Ogar, arrived just as the seven suspects, including Charles Okah, elder brother of the assumed leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), were conveyed to court with two vehicles without registration numbers.<br />But as reporters made attempts to enter the court premises, stern-looking and heavily armed security agents barred them. The lawyers to the accused and court officials were also not allowed access to the premises. <br />The accused were alleged to have been responsible for the October 1 bombings that claimed 12 Nigerians, including security agents and were, charged for carrying out terrorist acts, conspiracy to cause bodily harm as well as felony against the state.<br />As a result of the secrecy with which they were brought to court and the barring of the public, including reporters, from the proceedings, it was unclear whether the accused were actually arraigned in order for them to take their plea or not.<br />The Guardian, however, learnt that Chief Magistrate Oyebola Oyewumi was averse to such Gestapo trial and therefore adjourned the case till November 24, 2010 and directed the SSS to avail them access to their counsel in the interest of justice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com