The last may not have been heard about the controversial freedom recently granted to the suspected terrorist, Aminu Ogwuche, by an Abuja High Court, after the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, on Thursday, allegedly washed its hands off the entire saga.
Ogwuche was the alleged mastermind of the bloody bomb blast that rocked Nyanya, outskirts of Abuja, in April this year. The blast allegedly claimed the life of some 70 persons.
Police said in a statement made available to our Correspondent in Lagos said, “for the record, at no time did the Nigeria Police arraign the suspect in court for terrorism related offences.
“Moreover, the purported prosecution/arraignment by the Police could not have happened, as the Police could not prosecute a suspect it never arrested, never investigated nor had in its custody”.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson to the Department of State Service (DSS) Marilyn Ogar, said, “I have no comment about the Police statement. We are still studying the case file, and very soon, the service would make its position known to the public.”
“ It is therefore grossly erroneous, mischievous and malicious to impute lack of diligent prosecution to the Police. The Nigeria Police Force is manifestly and positively committed to the will of Nigerians to rid the nation of violent crimes like terrorism. Many of our officers have paid the supreme sacrifice on account of this”, the police said.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba, in the statement, signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Emmanuel Ojukwu, stated further that the attention of the Police Command was recently drawn to what it described as a most misleading media report that charges filed by the Nigeria Police at the Federal High Court Abuja, were struck out for lack of diligent prosecution in respect of the suspected terrorist Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche.
It would be recalled that the Department of State Security (DSS), that had intelligence on the Nyanya bombing and was investigating it, made a formal request to the Nigeria Police to assist in extraditing one Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, to Nigeria from Sudan, through the Interpol channel of which the Nigeria Police is well versed.
Police said, it was at that stage and reason that the Nigeria Police Force filed charges against the suspected fugitive Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, based on information that he fled to Sudan.
The filing of charges against the suspect is a legal procedure, to enable the Nigeria Police formally request the Sudanese authorities to grant Nigeria’s extradition request in respect of the suspected fugitive.
For the record, copy of filed charge(s) against a fugitive must be appended to documents in support of extradition request made to the host country, which in this case, is Sudan.
These facts were made known to the court when it insisted on the production of the accused even before his extradition to Nigeria.
Following Ogwuche’s extradition which the Nigeria Police accomplished successfully, the DSS, obtained a Court Order to remand the suspect for an initial period of three months in line with the Prevention of Terrorism Act and also liaised with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to undertake his prosecution.
The Police while respecting the rights of the media to publish, however appealed that due diligent check be observed at all times, to ensure that misleading information is not disseminated to the reading public.
It would be recalled that a Federal High court in Abuja, on Monday freed Aminu Ogwuche, the suspected mastermind of the Nyanya, outskirt of Abuja, bomb attack that killed some 70 people.
The court said it struck out a two-count terrorism charge against Mr. Ogwuche, on Monday, “after months of an alleged illogical trial for the April 2014 attack, which killed more than 70 people. The court said it is striking out the case for want of diligent prosecution by the state.
Mr. Ogwuche, a suspected Boko Haram member, was accused of being the brain behind the deadly Nyanya bomb attack. The blast at the Nyanya Motor Park occurred during morning peak hours as residents were hurrying to work.
It would be recalled that government had said Mr. Ogwuche fled to Sudan shortly after coordinating the attack. He was later to be repatriated to Nigeria to face charges.
The primary suspect and alleged ‘mastermind’ of the April 14 bomb blast in Nyanya, Abuja, was arrested on April 17th by Sudanese security operatives, with assistance of International Police (INTERPOL). He was later repatriated to Nigeria.
