ONE of the defendants standing trial over the August 26, 2011 bombing of the United Nations (UN) building in Abuja has told the Federal High Court how he became involved with the Al-Barnawi terror group.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Emeka Nwite in Abuja, the second defendant, Mohammed Saleh, disclosed in a video recording played in court that he joined Khalid Al-Barnawi in Bauchi shortly before the attack on the UN complex.
According to him, his association with Al-Barnawi began around that period and quickly developed.
The video was presented as part of proceedings in the ongoing trial-within-trial, which is being conducted to determine whether the confessional statements allegedly made by the defendants were given voluntarily.
Following the video presentation, the court proceeded with the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness.
Under questioning by counsel to the first defendant, F. K. Kaigama, NAIJAONPOINT , identified as “TSR3,” told the court that he is a technical officer with the Department of State Services (DSS).
He explained that his duties include setting up and operating audio and video recording equipment during suspect interviews.
NAIJAONPOINT further stated that he also carries out computer and mobile phone forensic examinations, as well as crime scene investigations such as fingerprint collection and laboratory analysis.
He added that, beyond installing recording equipment, he personally conducted the real-time audio-visual recording of Al-Barnawi’s interview and the subsequent recording of the statement-taking and its translation.
When asked about the presence of an officer named James in the DSS technical department, NAIJAONPOINT noted that several individuals with that name work in the unit.
Justice Nwite later adjourned the matter due to other official engagements. With the consent of counsel on both sides, the court fixed March 2 for the continuation of the cross-examination.
Al-Barnawi was arrested by the DSS in April 2016 in Lokoja, Kogi State, five years after the bombing of the UN building—Nigeria’s first attack on the premises of an international organisation—which claimed more than 20 lives and left over 70 others injured.
He is being prosecuted alongside Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello (also known as Datti), Mohammed Salisu, and Yakubu Nuhu, also known as Bello Maishayi.