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Police: Blame DSS for Weak Charges against Ogwuche

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Aminu-Sadiq-Ogwuche

Aminu-Sadiq-OgwucheAminu Sadiq Ogwuche, alleged mastermind of the Nyanya bus park bombing

Yemi Akinsuyi in Abuja

The police high command has said it should not be blamed for the lack of diligent prosecution against the alleged mastermind of the Nyanya bus park bombing where about 70 people were killed and several others injured, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, as the Directorate of State Security (DSS) was the sole prosecutor.

The charges against Ogwuche were on Monday struck out by a Federal High Court in Abuja for lack of diligent prosecution by both the police and the DSS.

Security watchers who have been following the rivalries among security operatives have blamed the high level of insecurity in the country, Ogwuche’s alleged bombing inclusive, on lack of synergy among the security operatives.

But in a swift reaction to the allegation, the Police Force said its involvement in the case of the alleged bomber was just to extradite him from Sudan where he had fled immediately after the bombing, and that Ogwuche was promptly handed over to the DSS operatives immediately he landed in the country.

According to a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Emmanuel Ojukwu, the purported prosecution/arraignment by the police could not have happened as the Force could not have prosecuted a suspect it never arrested, never investigated nor had in its custody.

The statement read: “The attention of the Nigeria police high command has been drawn to a most misleading media report that charges filed by the Nigeria police at the Federal High Court in Abuja, were struck out for lack of diligent prosecution in respect of the suspected terrorist,  Ogwuche.

“It would be recalled that the DSS that had intelligence on the Nyanya bombing and was investigating it, made a formal request to the Nigeria Police to assist in extraditing one Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche to Nigeria from Sudan, through the Interpol channel of which the Nigeria Police is well versed.

“It was at this stage and for this reason that the Nigeria Police Force filed charges against Ogwuche, based on information that he fled to Sudan.

“The filing of charges against the suspect is a legal procedure to enable the Nigeria Police formally request the Sudanese authorities to grant Nigeria’s extradition request in respect of the suspected fugitive.

“For the records, a copy of filed charge(s) against a fugitive must be appended to documents in support of extradition request made to the host country, which in this case, is Sudan.

“These facts were made known to the court when it insisted on the production of the accused even before his extradition to Nigeria.

“Following Ogwuche’s extradition which the Nigeria Police accomplished successfully, the DSS, obtained a court order to remand the suspect for an initial period of three months in line with the Prevention of Terrorism Act and also liaised with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to undertake his prosecution.

“For the record, at no time did the Nigeria Police arraign the suspect in court for terrorism related offences. 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.

“It is therefore grossly erroneous, mischievous and malicious to impute lack of diligent prosecution to the Police. The Nigeria Police Force is manifestly and positively committed to the will of Nigerians to rid the nation of violent crimes like terrorism. Many of our officers have paid the supreme sacrifice on account of this.

“The police, while respecting the rights of the media to publish, however appeals that due diligent check be observed to ensure that misleading information is not disseminated to the reading public.”

All efforts to get the DSS’s reaction to this allegation proved abortive as the service spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, did not pick several calls made to her nor answer her text in connection with the report.

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