Four sect members charged for UN House bombing

By Kamarudeen Ogundele

An Abuja Magistrate’s Court yesterday remanded four Boko Haram members accused of bombing the United Nations House.
The attack resulted in the death of 23 persons and left others seriously injured.
They are Salisu Mohammed, Inusa Mukailu, Danzunu Haruna and Abdulsalam Adamu.
They were charged for mischief and culpable homicide punishable with death under Sections 327 and 221 of the Penal Code Law.
The Police also arraigned 15 other members of the sect for various offences ranging from mischief, conspiracy and culpable homicide to armed robbery, possession of fire arms and explosive device as well as terrorism.
The Magistrate, Azubike Okeagu, who ordered that the accused be remanded in the prison custody, however declined jurisdiction in the case.
He said the court lacked the power to try capital offences.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the four suspects, Salisu Mohammed, Yunisa Mukaila, Danzumi Haruna and Abdulsalami Adamu of Kano State conspired and sent a suicide bomber in a CRV car with registration number AV 38 NSR loaded with explosives, forcefully drove into the United Nations House in Abuja on August 26, 2011 and detonated the explosives, killing 25 persons and leaving others seriously injured, thereby committing an offence contrary to sections 327 and 221 of The Penal Code Law.
The trio of Abubakar Mohammed, Suleiman Ahmed and Bashiru Mohammed were accused of armed robbery and illegal possession of fire arms and explosive device contrary to sections 1(1) (2)(a) and 3 (1) of the Fire Arms Act Cap 398 LFN, 2004.
Another set of seven accused persons, Shehu Ladan, Raboji Garuba, Ahmadu Maiya, Nasiru Ali, Samaila Yusuf, Umaru Mohammed were accused of mischief and illegal possession of fire arms and belonging to unlawful society contrary to Sections 3 (1) of fire arms act cap 398 LFN 2004 and Section 97 Penal Code respectively.
Suleiman Mohammed on his own part was accused of mischief and culpable homicide punishable with death contrary to Sections 327 and 221 of the Penal Code. He was alleged to have been arrested with a list of police personnel in a police station in Bauchi State.
He was also accused to have been involved in several police station bombings which resulted in the death of several policemen and civilians in Maiduguri, Yobe and Bauchi states.
Another suspect, Aminu Hussein was charged with mischief, culpable homicide punishable with death and illegal possession of fire arms contrary to Sections 327, 221 of Penal Code and Section 3(1) of the robbery and fire arms Act cap 398 LFN 2004 as amended respectively.
Hussein was accused of being a member of Boko Haram and had colluded with others at large to attack police stations, killing policemen in Maiduguri, Gombe and Bauchi. He was accused of bombing Army barracks in Bauchi and Sanni Abacha barracks, Abuja killing innocent people.

SOURCE: The Nation Newspaper 17 September 2011. http://www.thenationonlineng.net