By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja
After over two months of incercerating two aides of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, the Department of the State Service (DSS) has at last filed five-count terrorism charges against them.
Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing on Wednesday in the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed before the Federal High Court by the detainees against the SSS, the agency’s lawyer, Idowu Awo, told told the court that a gang of armed thieves (commonly known as “One Chance”) highjacked the case file from his colleague who was coming to court with it.
Awo said the thieves snatched the case-file from his colleague who, unknowingly, boarded their vehicle, adding that other items belonging to the unnamed colleague were stolen along with the case file.
He then prayed the court for an adjournment.
Lawyer to the applicant, David Olowoniwa, initially objected to the SSS’ lawyer’s application for adjournedment, but later conceded upon the intervention of the judge.
Ruling, Justice Eguwatu said since the court’s vacation was coming to an end, he would return the case file to the court’s Chief Judge for re-assignment during the regular court session.
While that drama played out in court, it emerged that the DSS has filed charges against the two for allegedly conspiring to commit terrorism and been in illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions.
The case file marked FHC/ABJ/CR/305/2021 was dated August 31 but filed on September 1, 2021 at the Federal High Court in Abuja
The charges were signed by S.M Bello and M.I. Bennett.
The two defendants, Jamiu Noah Oyetunji and Mrs. Amudat Habibat Babatunde – are those the SSS held on to despite the August 4, 2021 order by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja for the release of all the 12 detained associates of Adeyemo, arrested by SSS operatives during the July 1, 2021 raid on Adeyemo’s Ibadan home.
The charge reads:
*That you Jamiu Noah Oyetunji, Amudat Habibat Babatunde (adults) with others still at large, on or about the first day of July, 2021, at the residence of one Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho), located at Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire to commits acts of terrorism, to wit possession of prohibited fire arms: contrary to Section 17 of Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.
* That you Jamiu Noah Oyetunji, Amudat Habibat Babatunde (adults) with others still at large, on or about the first day of July, 2021, at the residence of Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo (aka Sunday IGBOHO) located at Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did have in your possession, without lawful authority, the under listed prohibited fire arms:
-five AK 47 rifles with serial numbers 04956, 213740, 8673, 945999 and 6139 respectively,
– two AK 47 rifles which serial numbers could not be identified,
– two pump action rifle with serial numbers 8836 and 9398 respectively,
– one pump action, which serial number could not be identified, and
– one stun gun;
contrary to Section 1(3)(c)(v) of the Terrorism Prevention Act CAP 10, 2011 and punishable under Section 1(2) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) act 2013.
*That you Jamiu Noah Oyetunj, Amudat Habibat Babatunde (adults), with others still at large, on or about the first day of July, 2021, at the residence of Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) located at Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did have in your possession, without lawful authority 1,295 live rounds of 7.62mm ammunitions and 221 live rounds of 5.56mm ammunitions, contrary to Section 1(3)(c)(v) of the Terrorism Prevention Act CAP 10, 2011 and punishable under Section 1(2) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) act 2013.
*That you Jamiu Noah Oyetunj, Amudat Habibat Babatunde (adults) with others still at large, on or about the first day of July, 2021, at the residence of Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) located at Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did involved yourselves in activities in preparation to commit acts of terrorism contrary to Section 21 of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
*That you Amudat Habibat Babatunde (f) adult of Okeare area of Ibadan, Oyo State did use your Facebook account as a platform to promote terrorist activities contrary to Section 181 & 2) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition Prevention) Act, 2015.
However, no date has yet been fixed for their arraignment.
