Alleged terrorism: DIA gets Court order to detain policeman, 19 others

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has approved the request of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to detain an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and 19 others for 30 days over their alleged involvement in banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism activities.

The police ASP, identified as A.A. Babangida, was ordered to be detained along with the other suspects for 30 days to allow DIA operatives to conduct a thorough investigation into their alleged involvement in these heinous crimes on Wednesday.

ASP Babangida, who was arrested in June and has since been in DIA custody, is alleged to have assisted Boko Haram, bandits, and ISWAP members in carrying out terrorism activities in some parts of the country.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the detention order while delivering a ruling on an ex-parte application brought before him by the DIA.

Counsel to the security agency, S.A. Aminu, while arguing the ex-parte application, requested the court’s permission to detain the suspects for 90 days.

The lawyer claimed that the suspects’ involvement in terrorism activities was complex, noting that the gang’s bomb experts were just apprehended based on information provided by the detainees.

She explained that the DIA intends to conduct a 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, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1146/2024, was supported by a 21-paragraph affidavit detailing how the agency obtained information that led to the arrest of the suspects in various locations at different times.

After scrutinizing the documentary exhibits presented before the court, Justice Lifu ordered the agency to detain the suspects until the conclusion of the investigation.

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The judge declined to grant the 90 days requested by the DIA on the grounds that the suspects have already been in custody for three months and that the Constitution presumes them innocent until proven otherwise.

Justice Lifu also ordered the DIA to do everything within its powers and within the ambit of the law to complete its investigation into the allegations against the suspects, to avoid violating the law.

Others ordered to be detained along with ASP Babangida are Usman Idris, Abu Safiyanu, Alhassan Idris, Sahada Ishaka, Abubakar Ibrahim Sani Bello, Yahaya Abdullahi, Haruna Salisu, and Mohammed Muazu.

The rest are Nura Idris, Alhaji Manu Mohammed, Umar Mohammed Lamu, Abubakar Mandara, Suleiman Musa Mohammed, Alhaji Madayi, Alhaji Amodu Bukar, Prince Oghewe, and Uzoma Aghaoyibo.