Court grants DSS’ request for accelerated trial of terror suspect, Al-Barnawi, four others

DSS operatives

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the request by the Department of State Services (DSS) for accelerated hearing in the ongoing trial of terror suspects, Khalid Al-Barnawi and four others accused, among others, of being behind the August 26, 2011 bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the request while ruling on Friday on an application filed by the DSS through its lawyer, Alex Izinyon (SAN).

Al- Barnawi was arrested by the DSS in April 2016 in Lokoja, Kogi State, five years after the attack on the Abuja UN building, the first of such attack on an international agency’s property in the country, which left over 20 individuals dead and over 70 others injuried.

While moving the application on Friday, Izinyon said the request for speedy hearing was informed by the prosecution’s readiness to ensure that the case is promptly determined.

By the application, which was not objected to by defence lawyers, parties are to watch video recordings tendered by the DSS in the ongoing trial-within-trial to prove that the defendants’ extrajudicial statements were made voluntarily.The defendants had claimed they were compelled to make the statements, which informed why the court is now conducting trial-within-trial.

The video clips will be played in the presence of the court Registar and parties will take notes after which they will return to the court on the 23rd and 24th October for continuation of trial within trial.

The main trial had begun shortly after his arrest in 2016 in Lokoja. However, several legal and administrative issues had stalled the trial.

Al- Barnawi known as Kafuri/ Naziru/Alhaji Yahaya/Mallam Dauda/Alhaji Tanimu, is believed to be a founding member of Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid Da’wah Wa’l-Jihad, the Boko Haram Islamist terror group, before he became the leader (Amir) of the break-away faction, Jama’at Ansarul Muslimim Fi Biladi Sudan (JAMBS). Nation