Terrorism: F.G Files Fresh Charges Against Alleged Nyanya Bomb Blast Mastermind - Ogwuche, Others

Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche (Centre)

The Federal Government has filed new charges against seven people, including 29 year-old Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche suspected to be the mastermind of the April 14, 2014 bombing in Nyanya, Abuja.

They were docked before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja friday.
However, their trial could not commence because five of them were yet to procure the services of lawyers.

Those brought to court include Ogwuche, Akhmad Rufai Abubakar (aka Abu Ibrahim/Maitirare), Mohammed Sani Ishaq, Ya’u Saidu (aka Kofar Rama), Anas Isah, Adamu Yusuf and Nasiru Abubakar.

However, the alleged main actor, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar (aka Dr Tsiga), who was said to have driven the explosive laden Volkswagen Golf car, used for the bombing, was not brought to court. He was said to be at large.

Another judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Adeniyi Ademola had late last year struck out an earlier charge filed against Ogwuche for lack of diligent prosecution.

The accused persons are in the new charge of seven counts, accused of conspiracy, engaging in act of terrorism, belonging to Boko Haram, an outlawed group and refusal to disclose to security agencies, information that would have helped them to prevent act of terrorism.

Ogwuche was, in count six, accused of rendering supports to a terrorist group by giving money at different times and places in Abuja to the widows of members of the terrorist organisation known as Boko Haram.

Ogwuche and Abubakar (aka Dr Tsiga) were, in count seven, accused of carrying out “surveillance and identified Silverbird Galleria and other locations as potential targets of terrorist attack.”

The accused persons were said to have committed offences contrary to and punishable under sections 1(2) (a) & (b), 5(b), 8(b) 16, 17 of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013.

Yesterday, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Saidu Diri effected some amendments to the fresh charge. Lawyers to Ogwuche and Isah, Ahmed Raji (SAN) and Abdulhamid Mohammed did not object to the amendments.

Justice Mohammed has adjourned to February 20 for the possible arraignment of the accused persons.

Source:
ThisDay Newspaper