Costly schizophrenia — that appears what the Goodluck Jonathan government suffers, in its attitude to terrorism.
In one breath, it goes as far as securing the extradition of a terror suspect. But to nail the case in court, its security agencies obstruct themselves. Against Islamist terrorism that has killed and maimed thousands of innocent Nigerians, no government can afford to project such culpable split mentality and laxity.
Yet, that appears the matter in the case of Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, the suspected mastermind of the April 14 Nyanya bombing in Abuja, in which no less than 70 Nigerians perished; and scores of others, maimed.
On November 24, noticing the Police-DSS dingdong, which had produced no witness against the accused person, even after many court appearances, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja, terminated the case “for want of diligent prosecution”. He therefore acquitted the accused person.
From media reports, the Police had arraigned Ogwuche on a two-count charge of terrorism, asking the DSS to release to it the suspect. But the DSS had reportedly demurred, insisting that since it had the suspect and investigated the case, the Police should withdraw its case, thus allowing DSS to file “a proper” charge. All plea by Justice Ademola, to the two security arms to amicably resolve their differences, for the case to proceed, fell on deaf ears — until the termination of November 24, which the judge probably used as some shock therapy.
Indeed, things got to a head when the accused started suing for his fundamental human rights — and why not? — when the rigmarole was stalling a trial; yet the accused (presumed innocent in the eyes of the law, until proven otherwise in court) was in detention. The hearing for the enforcement of Ogwuche’s human rights is fixed for later this month.
The Police have, however, reacted with a bombast rippling with sophistry, denying it ever arraigned Ogwuche on any charge.
“For the record, at no time did the Nigeria Police arraign the suspect in court for terrorism related offences,” Police spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu, and acting commissioner of Police (CP) declared in a release. “Moreover, the purported prosecution/arraignment by the Police could not have happened as the Police could not prosecute a suspect it never arrested, never investigated nor had in its custody.”
So, Justice Ademola made up the story, the observation in his own court, that there was a dingdong? He also, out of judicial whim, terminated the case, for no logical reason?
The Police, however, admitted that it was only involved in getting Ogwuche extradited from the Sudan, which it crowed it was able to do through its Interpol sources.
Perhaps the DSS too would come out with its own back-slapping rhetoric, its face creasing into some contemptuous benevolence, that it does the Nigerian people — innocent victims of terrorism both security arms are paid to avert — a favour by deigning to drag a terror suspect to court; and reserves the right to secure conviction?
Shame on both the Police and DSS for this culpable negligence. Even more so on the Police, for its insensitive bombast.
Regrettably though, it is too glaring a manifestation of the wilful, if not outright fatal, distraction of the state under President Goodluck Jonathan. That a case of this significance is managed so shabbily is a pointer to the manner the terrorism war is being executed by federal government.
The Police never sniff any intelligence, except when it is partisan. They flee from Boko Haram terror, only to swoop on Parliament, alleging some comical “hoodlums” where there are none. The DSS too appears largely quiet until it lands the partisan duty of invading a rival political party’s facility, in what is reminiscent of the US Watergate scandal, that consigned President Richard Nixon tohistoric odium. Even IGP Suleiman Abba, in the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal case, would misapply his office and defend his stance before a committee of Parliament in combative ignorance.
The Police and DSS must get serious on the Ogwuche affair. Citizen Ogwuche, though accused of terror, is entitled to fair, speedy but rigorous trial. That is his right under the law. Nigerians that perished in terror attacks have a right to justice — when suspect terrorists are convicted and punished.
That is the only way they can be convinced that the government takes its job seriously.
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