By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
The Federal Government, yesterday, described the N100million demand by Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, the alleged mastermind of the April 14 bomb blast that killed over 75 persons and wounded 100 others at a crowded motor park in Nyanya Abuja, as a big joke.
Consequently, the government sought an outright dismissal of the fundamental right enforcement proceeding that was initiated before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court by Ogwuche.
Nyanya bomb blast suspect Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche sits in the courtroom in Abuja on November 24, 2014. A Nigerian court on November 24 struck out terrorism related charges against Ogwuche, the alleged mastermind of an April 14, 2014 bus station bomb blast in Nyanya, an outskirt of the capital city of Abuja, which was claimed by Boko Haram islamists, that killed 71 people and wounded 124. AFP PHOTO
Nyanya bomb blast suspect Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche sits in the courtroom in Abuja on November 24, 2014. A Nigerian court on November 24 struck out terrorism related charges against Ogwuche, the alleged mastermind of an April 14, 2014 bus station bomb blast in Nyanya, an outskirt of the capital city of Abuja, which was claimed by Boko Haram islamists, that killed 71 people and wounded 124. AFP PHOTO
Ogwuche had in the application he filed through his lawyer Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN , urged the court to compel the Federal Government to pay him N100m as compensation for his continued detention in the custody of the Department of State Security, DSS, over his alleged complicity in the bombing incident.
He told the court that he has been in detention since July 15, 2014, when he was arrested in Khartoum, Sudan and extradited to Nigeria through the help of the Interpol, saying the government has neither arraigned nor filed a valid charge against him.
Ogwuche accused the Nigerian government of violating his fundamental human rights as enshrined in section 34, 35, 36, 41 and 43 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as Articles 2, 6, 7(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right (Ratification& Enforcement Act).
Aside asking for damages against the government, Ogwuche further urged the court to invoke it’s powers and order his release from detention pending whenever the government is ready to conduct his trial.
His application was further anchored on Order 2, Rule (1),(2),(3) of the Fundamental Enforcement Procedure Rule.
Meantime, the government yesterday described Ogwuche’s contention as arrant balderdash, saying he is under lawful custody following his role in the Nyanya mayhem.
DSS lawyer Mr Clifford Osagie also drew the attention of the court to the fact that Ogwuche has been allowed to have access to his lawyers, family members and adequate medical attention.
Osagie argued that the right to liberty accorded to the accused person under section 35(1) was not absolute, even as he adduced two exhibits (SS-2 and SS-3) to show why Ogwuche should not be allowed to regain his freedom yet.
