Nyanya bombing: Absence of witnesses stalls trial of Ogwuche, 5 others

.As court adjourns case to May 19

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—Trial of the alleged mastermind of the April 14 bomb blast that killed over 75 persons and wounded 100 others at a crowded motor park in Nyanya, Abuja, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche,  was stalled, yesterday, owing to the failure of three government  witnesses to appear in court.

ogwuche

Justice Ahmed Mohammed had slated, yesterday, to commence hearing on how Ogwuche  and five other alleged members of the Boko Haram group, allegedly perfected plot for the Nyanya bombing.

The other accused persons on trial are Ahmad Rufai Abubakar (a.k.a Abu Ibrahim/Maiturare), Mohammed Sani Ishaq, Ya’u Saidu (a.k.a Kofar Rama), Anas Isah, Adamu Yusuf and Nasiru Abubakar.

They are answering to an eight-count terrorism charge that was preferred against them before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court by the Attorney-General of the Federation  and Minister of Justice.

When the matter came up, yesterday, the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri,  told the court that the witnesses were unavoidably out of Abuja.

He said that the witnesses are currently involved in the ongoing security operation at the Sambisa Forest, aimed at freeing some of those that are still under the clutch of  Boko Haram insurgents.

The  DPP, therefore, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the Federal Government to provide the three witnesses.

Consequently, Justice Mohammed, deferred the trial of the six accused persons till May 19 and 20.

The court had earlier granted an order for the identity of the witnesses to  be shielded from the public.

All the accused persons had through their respective lawyers, led by Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, vehemently opposed an application for the witnesses to wear  hood while testifying before the court.

The accused persons were  alleged to have conspired to commit an act of terrorism by driving a Volkswagen Golf car laden with improvised explosives devices, IEDs, and parked same at the motor park which was later detonated, and killed about 75 persons.

 

Nyanya bombing: Absence of witnesses stalls trial of Ogwuche, 5 others