Trial of the alleged mastermind of the April 14 bomb blast
that killed over 75 persons and wounded 100 others at a crowded motor park in
Nyanya, Abuja, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, was
stalled, yesterday, owing to the failure of three government witnesses to appear in court.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed had slated, yesterday, to commence
hearing on how Ogwuche and five other
alleged members of the Boko Haram group, allegedly perfected plot for the
Nyanya bombing.
The other accused persons on trial are Ahmad Rufai Abubakar
(a.k.a Abu Ibrahim/Maiturare), Mohammed Sani Ishaq, Ya’u Saidu (a.k.a Kofar
Rama), Anas Isah, Adamu Yusuf and Nasiru Abubakar.
They are answering to an eight-count terrorism charge that
was preferred against them before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court
by the Attorney-General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice.
He said that the witnesses are currently involved in the
ongoing security operation at the Sambisa Forest, aimed at freeing some of
those that are still under the clutch of
Boko Haram insurgents.
The DPP, therefore,
prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the Federal Government to provide
the three witnesses.
Consequently, Justice Mohammed, deferred the trial of the
six accused persons till May 19 and 20.
The court had earlier granted an order for the identity of
the witnesses to be shielded from the
public.
All the accused persons had through their respective
lawyers, led by Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, vehemently opposed an application for the
witnesses to wear hood while testifying
before the court.
The accused persons were
alleged to have conspired to commit an act of terrorism by driving a
Volkswagen Golf car laden with improvised explosives devices, IEDs, and parked
same at the motor park which was later detonated, and killed about 75 persons.
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