FG Re-arraigns El-Zakzaky’s CSO, Abbas, Two Others on Amended Charges

Alex Enumah in Abuja
The federal government yesterday re-arraigned Haruna Abbas, the Chief Security Officer to the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and two others before Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court in Abuja on an amended eight-count charge.

Abbas, Ibrahim Musa and Adam Suleiman were earlier arraigned by the federal government before Justice Adeniyi Ademola on a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism, which they were alleged to have committed between 2009 and 2013.

The trio were said to have agreed to send people for terrorist training in Iran contrary to Section 4, of the Terrorist Prevention Act 2013.

They were also alleged to have conspired among themselves to do an act preparatory to an act of terrorism, by obtaining Nigeria’s International passport and Iranian Visa to travel to Iran for terrorist training.
When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, the prosecuting counsel,  Chike Nnenna, told the court that the matter was starting afresh as the charge was dated November 5, 2014.

She urged the court to accept the charge and allow same be read to the defendants.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their not-guilty plea, prosecuting counsel made an oral application that Ibrahim Musa (the 2nd defendant) who is still in DSS custody be remanded in Kuje prison.

Counsel to Abbas, Aliyu Musa, informed the court that he wished to make an oral application on the health of the defendant.

Justice Chikere, however, refused the oral application made by Musa and told him to file a motion which would be heard on the next adjourn date.
Justice Chikere then adjourned till May 11 for further hearing and ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.