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A Federal High
Court sitting in
Abuja , on
Monday , struck out the two- count
criminal charge bothering on terrorism
filed by the police against the key
suspect of the April 14 , 2014 Nyanya
bomb blast , Aminu Ogwuche, in the
Federal Capital Territory .
No fewer than 75 people lost their lives
in the blast , while several others were
injured.
The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi
Ademola, while striking out the charge ,
cited lack of diligent prosecution on the
part of the police for the action .
The police, the judge observed, had
been absent in court two consecutive
times.
The suspect, Ogwuche, is, however, to
remain in the custody of the
Department of State Services (DSS) till
December 5 when the court will hear the
application filed by his counsel , Ahmed
Raji , seeking to enforce his fundamental
human rights.
It would be recalled that during the
initial stage of the trial, there was
disagreement between the DSS and the
police on who should prosecute
Ogwuche .
It was, however, agreed that the
Attorney General of the Federation will
prosecute the accused, but no charge
has been filed from the AGF ’s office ,
though the Director of Public
Prosecution (DPP ) is always in
attendance in court.
At the last adjourned date , the court
ordered the DSS to produce Ogwuche in
court.
When hearing in the case resumed on
Monday , the DSS brought the accused
person , but he was not arraigned due to
the absence of the police.
Counsel to Ugwuche made an oral
application to the court for an order
granting the accused person access to
his lawyer , family members and his
doctor .
Counsel to the DSS , Clifford Osaghie ,
did not oppose the prayer that the
accused lawyer and family should visit
him.
Osaghie only objected to allowing a
doctor to visit him, pointing out that
the DSS has a standard clinic and in
the event of any illness , the accused
would be referred to the National
Hospital .
The court directed that the accused
person should be granted access to
three lawyers, and two of his family
members – his wife and brother.
The court added that the service should
ensure that adequate medical treatment
is administered on the accused and in
the event of any illness , he should be
taken to the National Hospital for
treatment .
The court later adjourned till December
5 for hearing of the accused person ’ s
request
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