•DSS arrests suspected fraudster fronting for Boko Haram, says Omeri
The Federal Government has begun the process for the extradition of Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, the suspected mastermind of the April 14 bomb blast at a bus terminal in Nyanya, Abuja.
It has lodged a three-count charge against him before the Federal High Court, Abuja. The charge filed for the government under the name of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) was mentioned yesterday before Justice Adeniyi Ademola.
The Nation learnt that the charge was required by the Police to carry through its request for the Interpol to help extradite Ogwuche, who is being held by the Interpol in Sudan.
The charge, it was learnt, will serve as evidence to support the police’s claim that Ogwuche, 29, is wanted in the country to face trial.
He is said to have been the brain behind the plot and execution of the blast in which over 100 people died, before escaping to Sudan, where he was arrested with the assistance of the Interpol.
According to count one of the charge filed for IGP by DSP Oloye Torugbene (a Deputy Superintendent of Police) Ogwuche was alleged to have conspired with others said to be at large, to commit an act of terrorism by detonating improvised explosive devices at Nyanya Motor Park which resulted in the death of 75 persons and injuring over a hundred other persons.
Count two of the charge reads, “that you, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, Male, and others now at large, on the 14th of April, 2014 at Nyanya, FCT, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did facilitate the activities of persons engaged in an act of terrorism; by detonating improvised explosive devices at the Nyanya motor park which resulted in the death of 75 persons and injuring over a hundred other persons.”
The alleged offences are said to be punishable under sections 1 (2) (d) and 17of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act of 2013.
Justice Ademola has adjourned to July 1 for mention.
The Coordinator, National Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri, yesterday said the Department of State Services (DSS) had arrested a suspect fronting for the Boko Haram sect.
Omeri spoke at a joint news conference in Abuja that the suspect was extorting money from some influential Nigerians allegedly to protect them.
The coordinator, who is also the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), said the suspect was being interrogated.
“This is, therefore, an advice and warning signal to Nigerians to be vigilant on the activities of such characters using Boko Haram as a franchise,’’ he said.
He appealed for understanding on some of the measures being adopted by security agencies in addressing the current challenge.
The coordinator said the action was meant to guarantee safety and not punitive measure.
Also, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, Director, Defence Information, said the military had no problem with the media and would not for whatever reason hamper their activities.
Olukolade said the current check on vehicles conveying newspapers to different areas of the country from their production point was not a clampdown.
“But, please bear it in mind; this is not a military clampdown. Whatever check you see is not aimed at disturbing the business of the media; that’s why we will like to correct the remarks being made on what is going on.
“What we are doing are checks; It is informed by intelligence report on the need to enhance our safety,’’ he said.
According to him, the checks will prevent that channel (vehicle) from conveying anything that will be of danger to the rest of us.
“One of the inconveniences we have to face is the check we go through; these checks are not normal things, they are imposed by the situation we find ourselves.
“And we will request our colleagues in the media to understand it as such and not refer to it as if it is targeted to embarrass them.’’
Olukolade said the military had benefited from press freedom and would ensure that the freedom was guaranteed.
