An Abuja Federal High Court on Friday refused bail to three Lebanese accused by the Federal Government of being terrorists.
The court, presided by Justice Adeniyi
Ademola, in its ruling on a bail application filed by the suspects – the
co-owner of Amigo Supermarket, Mustapha Fawaz, and two others, Abdallah
Thahini and Talal Ahmad Roda – held that their release could undermine
Nigeria’s security.
The Lebanese are being tried by the
Federal Government on six counts of terrorism and related offences,
following their arrest in connection with the armoury and Hezbollah
terror cell in Bompai, Kano State.
In a bid to prove that they will not run
away from the country if granted bail, they had asked the court to
allow the Lebanese ambassador or the country’s head of mission in
Nigeria to stand surety for them.
Their lawyer, Robert Clarke, SAN, had
also claimed that one of the accused persons has a heart condition which
required specialist attention.
The Lebanese suspects also asked the
court to reopen Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park Resort,
which were sealed after their arrest.
The Federal Government, in the charge
filed by Simon Egede, the acting Director of Prosecutions of the
Federation, alleged that the Lebanese used their premises at Amigo
Supermarket Ltd. and Wonderland Amusement Park Resort, both in Abuja,
and No. 3, Gaya Road, Kano, for terrorist activities.
However, ruling on the application on
Friday, Justice Ademola refused all the prayers made by the Lebanese and
instead, ordered an accelerated trial of the matter.
Two of the six counts in the charge
attract a life sentence, a factor which the judge said must be
considered in deciding the bail application.
He noted that the weight of the
punishment could tempt the accused persons to jump bail, especially as
they have dual citizenship.
The suspects had pleaded not guilty when
they were arraigned, but Justice Ademola held that the prosecution had
established a prima facie case against them.
The judge added that the medical report
presented by the Lebanese did not disclose any information that could be
relied on to grant them bail.
Justice Ademola said, “Once the security
of the state is in jeopardy, it is difficult to grant bail. The accused
persons may jump bail.
“Having resolved the matter in favour of the respondents, the motion on notice is hereby dismissed.”
He also upheld the prosecution’s argument that the sealed premises should not be reopened until investigations were concluded.
The judge ordered an accelerated hearing of the matter, and adjourned till July 29, 30 and 31, 2013, for trial.
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Rubbish!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTalking about getting bails for people that were charged for treasonable felony?
Just watch, bail must be granted at the end of he day.
or not be Nigeria again.