Court Grants SSS 60-Day Request to Hold 12 Suspected Moroccan-Linked Boko Haram Plotters In Osun

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by the DSS lawyer, Y.I. Umar, held that the application was meritorious and accordingly granted it.

“An order is hereby made enabling the State Security Service (aka DSS)/applicant to detain the respondents for sixty (60) days pending the conclusion of the investigation,” he ruled.

Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until March 3 for mention.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DSS had, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1942/V/2024, listed Adamu Abubakar (aka Abu Aisha), Babagana Bashuli, Muhammed Adam, Mustapha Abacha Katuru, and Muhammed as 1st to 5th respondents.

The security agency also listed Babakura Mallam Abacha, Muhammed Ciroma, Ali Gambo, Muhammed Umoru, and Muhammed Bundi as 6th to 10th respondents respectively.

The DSS, in the motion dated Dec. 18, 2024, but filed Dec. 20, 2024, sought one prayer.

The DSS, in the affidavit deposed to by Yamuje Benye, a personnel of the agency attached to the Legal Service Department at the national headquarters, averred that the suspects were arrested in Ilesa East LGA in Osun.

It said they were arrested on Dec. 16, 2024, upon reasonable suspicion of their involvement in terrorism.

The security outfit said preliminary investigation revealed that the respondents were members of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group.

“Intelligence at the disposal of the applicant revealed that the respondents were planning to launch a Boko Haram/ISWAP cell in Osun State;

“That the respondents were arrested while undergoing training on how to manufacture and detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” it said.

The agency alleged that the suspects were members of the late Abubakar Shekau terrorist group, who escaped from Sambisa Forest to Osun because of the series of onslaughts being carried out by the Nigerian Army against them.

It said the respondents are aiding the applicant to unravel other members of the terrorist group who are still at large.

According to the DSS, releasing the respondents at this stage of the preliminary investigation will be detrimental to the applicant’s efforts to arrest other members of the terrorist group.

It said the activities of the respondents constitute a potent threat to national security and the corporate existence of Nigeria.

“It is in the interest of justice and national security to grant this application,” it prayed.

In a related development, Justice Nwite equally granted an order enabling the DSS to detain Ayomide Akintunde and Nurudeen Adesiyan for a period of 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The judge made the order after Umar, who also appeared for DSS, moved the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1933/V/2024 to that effect.

The matter was subsequently adjourned until March 3 for mention.