Nyanya blasts: We didn’t bungle suspect’s trial – Police

By Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja

The Nigeria Police Force has denied filling any case against the suspected mastermind of the Nyanya bomb blasts, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, even as they insist they could not have bungled the trial.
Police spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu, yesterday in a press statement in Abuja, said media reports that charges filed by the Nigeria Police at the Federal High Court Abuja, were struck out for lack of diligent prosecution, were “most misleading.”
However, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who struck out the two-count charge against the terrorism suspect advanced “want of diligent prosecution by the Inspector-General of Police and his prosecutors,” as reason for his decision.
“This criminal charge is hereby struck out for want of diligent prosecution by the complainant, Inspector General of Police and his prosecutors,” he said.

The statement by the police spokesperson read in part: “The attention of the Nigeria Police High Command has been drawn to a most misleading media report that charges filed by the Nigeria Police at the Federal High Court Abuja, were struck out for lack of diligent prosecution in respect of the suspected terrorist, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche.
“It would be recalled that the Department of State Security (DSS), that had intelligence on the Nyanya Bombing and was investigating it, made a formal request to the Nigeria Police to assist in extraditing one Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche to Nigeria from Sudan, through the Interpol channel of which the Nigeria Police is well versed.

“It was at this stage and for this reason that the Nigeria Police Force filed charges against the suspected fugitive Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, based on information that he fled to Sudan.”
Ojukwu said: “The filing of charges against the suspect is legal procedures to enable the Nigeria Police formally request the Sudanese authorities to grant Nigeria’s extradition request in respect of the suspected fugitive.”
“Copies of filed charge(s) against a fugitive must be appended to documents in support of extradition request made to the host country, which in this case, is Sudan.

“These facts were made known to the court when it insisted on the production of the accused even before his extradition to Nigeria.
“Following Ogwuche’s extradition which the Nigeria Police accomplished successfully, the DSS, obtained a Court Order to remand the suspect for an initial period of three months in line with the Prevention of Terrorism Act and also liaised with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to undertake his prosecution.”
He maintained that: “At no time did the Nigeria Police arraign the suspect in court for terrorism related offences. Moreover, the purported prosecution/arraignment by the Police could not have happened as the police could not prosecute a suspect it never arrested, never investigated nor had in its custody.

“It is, therefore, grossly erroneous, mischievous and malicious to impute lack of diligent prosecution to the Police. The Nigeria Police Force is manifestly and positively committed to the will of Nigerians to rid the nation of violent crimes like terrorism. Many of our officers have paid the supreme sacrifice on account of this.”
He appealed to the media to ensure due diligent check be observed before publishing to avoid misleading information being disseminated to the reading public.
The 29-year-old Nigerian Army deserter was arrested in Sudan and brought to the country on the July 15, 2014, on charges of being the mastermind of the twin bombings in Nyanya, Abuja.