Mohammed Shosanya
A Federal High Court in Abuja, Wednesday, ordered the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), to detain an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, and 19 others for one month over their alleged involvement in banditry, kidnapping and terrorism activities.
Justice Peter Lifu, made the order after hearing an exparte application brought before the court by the government agency.
The police ASP, A. A Babangida, was ordered to be detained alongside other suspects for 30 days to enable the DIA operatives carry out thorough investigation into their involvement in the alleged crimes.
Other suspects ordered to be detained are:Usman Idris, Abu Safiyanu, Alhassan Idris, Sahada Ishaka, Abubakar Ibrahim Sani Bello, Yahaya Abdullahi, Haruna Salisu and Mohammed Muazu.
The rest included: Nura Idris, Alhaji Manu Mohammed, Umar Mohammed Lamu, Abubakar Mandara, Suleiman Musa Mohammed, Alhaji Madayi, Alhaji Amodu Bukar Prince Oghewe and Uzoma Aghaoyibo.
S.A Aminu,who moved the ex-parte application marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1146/2024, on behalf of DIA, had requested an order of court to detain the suspects for 90 days.
She told the court that the involvement of the suspects in the alleged terrorism activities was so complex because, according to her, the bomb experts for the gang have just been apprehended based on information being volunteered by the detainees.
She explained that DIA intends to carry on critical investigation into the unlawful activities of Babangida and others before handing them over to the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, for prosecution.
The ex-parte application of the DIA was supported by a 21-paragraph affidavit, which stated how the agency obtained hints that led to the arrest of the suspects in various locations and at different times.
After going through the documentary exhibits placed before the court, Justice Lifu ordered the agency to detain the suspects till the conclusion of investigation.
But,the judge refused to grant the request of the DIA to detain the suspects for 90 days, on the basis that they have been in detention for three months and the fact that the Constitution presumes them innocent until the otherwise is proven against them.
The court also ordered that the DIA should do everything within its powers and ambit of the law to complete its investigation into the allegations against the suspects so as not to breach constitutional provisions.
ASP Babangida was arrested in June and had since been in DIA custody.
He was alleged to have been aiding Boko Haram members, bandits and ISWAP members in carrying out terrorism activities in some parts of the country.
