Terrorism: Why court struck out Ogwuche’s case – FG

Federal Government, yesterday, revealed that the case against the alleged mastermind of the Nyanya bomb blast, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, was discontinued because the accused was not meant to face prosecution at the time he was arraigned.

The government said it arraigned Ogwuche at the Federal High in Abuja to fulfil condition put by the Sudanese authorities for his extradition from Sudan to Nigeria.

The Coordinator of the National Information Centre(NIC), Mr Mike Omeri, who gave the reason at the resumption of a security briefing alongside the Spokespersons of the various security agencies, in Abuja, said investigation was still ongoing on Ogwuche’s involvement on the April 14 Nyanya bomb explosion.

Ogwuche was arrested in Sudan and brought to the country on 15 July, 2014 on charges of being the mastermind of the 14 April twin bomb blasts in Nyanya, Abuja.

On November, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Abuja Federal High Court struck out the two count charge brought against Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, for want of diligent prosecution by the Nigeria Police Force.

However, Omeri disagreed with reporters who reminded him that the case was thrown out of court for lack of diligent prosecution, insisting that the case was instituted in the first place to satisfy Sudanese authorities.

“Sudan government wanted to see that before this man (Ogwuche) is extradited is actually charged for the offence at home. Therefore, to fulfil the condition, Nigeria has to take him (Ogwuche) to court and we showed evidence that his case was in court. And so, they released Ogwuche.

“Ordinarily, the case should not have continued, because the man (Ogwuche) is still in custody of the relevant security agency, all those things to be done are now being done diligently to ensure successful prosecution of the offender,” he said.

While condemning the recent bomb explosions in various locations in the country, Omeri noted that the situation in the country calls for stronger cooperation among the three tiers of government.

According to him, “the centre urges greater cooperation between the local and the state governments in the area of community policing and similar exercises that will effectively check terror activities in all parts of the country.”

Omeri, who is also the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) warned Nigerians against some individuals or civil groups, who want to capitalise on the situation in the country to achieve their selfish interest in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

“Given the security challenges facing the nation, against the backdrop of the 2015 General Elections and the deployment of IT knowledge and services by some privileged Nigerians for the achievement of their selfish interests and goals, the Centre wishes to appeal to the generality of Nigerians to be mindful of the activities of selfish and unscrupulous persons, who may wish to undermine the greater interest of the country and welfare of her citizens.

“We must not allow these selfish interests and goals becloud our sense of duty and obligation to our country and fatherland,” he said.