Three out of the six persons held for allegedly planning to attack Igalaland in Kogi State on behalf of the Boko Haram insurgents have been discharged by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court however returns Muhammed Nazeef Yusuf, a lecturer with the Kogi State University to remand custody.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole yesterday discharged Mustapha Yusuf Ismaila Abdulazeez, and Ibrahim Hayafu after the Department of State Security (DSS) said it found no evidence against them. Counsel to DSS Cliff Osagie however applied to further remand Muhammed Nazeef Yusuf who was accused of being the spiritual leader and coordinator of the Boko Haram sect in Kogi state; Umar Musa and Salami Abdullahi, both accused of being key members of the sect.
Osagie brought an ex parte motion dated January 22 seeking for the permission which he said is in line with section 27 (1) of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.
However, defence counsels Hassan Liman (SAN) and James Ocholi (SAN) opposed the application on the grounds that the prosecution could only file an ex parte motion when no proceeding is ongoing; they urged the court to enforce its order made on January 13 that all the suspects would be discharged if the prosecution has no case against them. Following the application by Musa Umar for time to brief a defence lawyer, Justice Kolawole adjourned the case to January 28 for hearing.
Meanwhile, Justice Kolawole has fixed a fundamental rights enforcement suit by Salami Abdullahi challenging his prolonged detention since November 2013 to same date for mention.
