FG arraigns El-Zakzaky’s Chief Security Officer Abbas, two others

The Chief Security Officer to the detained leader of the Shi’ite Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and two others, were on Monday re-arraigned before Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The Federal Government had arraigned Haruna Abbas, Ibrahim Musa and Adam Suleiman before Justice Adeniyi Ademola on a 7-count criminal charge for allegedly supporting terrorism between 2009 and 2013 by agreeing to send people for terrorist training in Iran contrary to Section 4, of the Terrorist Prevention Act 2013.

El-Zakzaky, leader of Shi’ite in Nigeria, has been in detention since December 12, 2015, after members of the sect encountered the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Gen Tukur Buratai in a shootout.

The Federal Government, while arraigning them yesterday on an amended 8-count charge, said they allegedly conspired amongst themselves to do an act preparatory to an act of terrorism, by obtaining Nigeria’s International Passport and Iranian Visa for travelling to Iran for terrorist training.

The prosecuting counsel, Chike Nnenna, told the court that the matter was starting afresh and that the charge was dated November 5, 2014.

When the charges were read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty and the prosecution counsel made an oral application that Ibrahim Musa (the 2nd defendant) who is still in DSS custody should be sent to prison for remand.

Counsel to Abbas, Aliyu Musa, made an oral application on the health of the defendant and prayed the court to grant him bail.

Justice Chikere, however refused the oral application made by Musa and told him to file a motion which will be heard on the next adjourned date of May 11, 2017.

The Judge then ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody and be brought to court on May 11, when the bail application will be heard.