Terrorism: Four Docked Over UN House Abuja Bombing

Nnamdi Felix / Abuja: One year and nine months after the suicide bombing attack that rocked the United Nations Headquarters in Abuja, the federal government on Tuesday arraigned four suspected terrorists believed to have been involved in the plot before a federal high court siting in Abuja. The suspected terrorists, Mr. Salisu Mohammed, Inusa Mukailu, Danzumi Haruna and Abdulsalami Adamu, were slammed with four counts charge wherein they were accused of agreeing amongst themselves and with others still at large, on or about the 20th of August, 2011, to do an illegal act which resulted in the death of 23 persons thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96(a) of the Penal Code Law. They were alleged to have knowingly assisted and facilitated the activities of persons engaged in an act of terrorism and thereby committed a punishable offence. On counts three of the charge, the suspected terrorists were alleged to have deliberately and maliciously did an act that seriously damaged an international organization thereby running foul of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011. They were also accused of being involved in the release of dangerous substance that caused explosion endangering twenty three human lives at the United Nations building. This offence also runs contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011. At the trial, the prosecutor, Mrs. I. Ideva, a Chief State Counsel, applied that the charges be read to the suspected terrorists but the suspects claimed that they do not understand the English language. One of the court's interpreters had to be invited to interpret proceedings to the suspects in Hausa language before their pleas were taken. All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the entire counts of the charge. The bomb explosion which caused massive devastation to the building's lower floors also destroyed offices of twenty six humanitarian and development agencies of the UN which are housed there. More than 73 persons including staff of the UN, visitors and staff of private businesses operating from the building received non fatal injuries while scores of others lost their lives. In September 2011, Nigeria's state security service, SSS, pointed accusing fingers to one Mr. Astrid Mantuk as the mastermind of the attack and offered a huge sum as reward to anyone with useful information that will lead to his arrest. Mr. Salisu Mohammed, Inusa Mukailu, Danzumi Haruna and Abdulsalami Adamu, who were docked Tuesday were arrested that September and dragged before an Abuja magistrate court where they were charged with organizing the bombing. They had been in custody since then. Following their pleas of not guilty, the prosecutor, Mrs. Ideva applied for a date for the trial noting that the prosecution witnesses are all ready to give evidence at the trial. Some of these prospective witnesses include former owners of the exploded Honda CRV vehicle with registration number AV 38 NSR (Kano) which was used for the bombing operation. The trial judge, Justice Gladys Olotu, adjourned the matter to Tuesday, 11th June.