One Nyanya bomb blast suspects dies in DSS custody

ONE of the suspects on trial for the April 14, 2014 bomb blast that killed 75 people and wounded several others at a crowded motor park in Nyanya, a surburb of Abuja, has died in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS).

The suspect, Adamu Yusuf, who was the third defendant in the charge, was said to have died from asthma attack while in DSS detention recently.

The Federal Government had, on May 15, 2015, arraigned the alleged mastermind of the blasts, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, alongside Adamu Yusuf, Anas Isah, Yau Saidu Muhammadu, Sani Ishaq and Ahmed Rufai Abubakar (a.k.a. Abu Ibrahim/Maiturare) at the Federal High Court, for being behind the blast.

Other suspects were said to be currently suffering from one ailment or another.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, counsel for the defendants earlier moved applications for the remaining suspects to be transferred to prison custody.

The prosecution counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, who was absent, sought an adjournment of the matter because he was said to be appearing before the Appeal Court for another matter.

The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, adjourned the matter till November 2.

The suspects are standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on terrorism, which they pleaded not guilty to.