A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday discharged a Boko
Haram suspect, Usman Abubakar, who was arraigned alongside six others on
terrorism charges.
Abubakar, the 6th defendant, was allegedly involved in the
abduction of seven foreigners from a construction site in Bauchi, who were
taken to Sambisa Forest, in Borno, where they were murdered in February 2013.
He was charged alongside Mohammed Usman (a.k.a Khalid
Al-Barnawi), Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello (a.k.a Abu Azzan),
Mohammed Salisu (a.k.a Datti), Yakubu Nuhu (a.k.a Bello Maishayi) and a lady,
Halima Haliru.
They were arraigned on an 11-count charge, bordering on
abduction and murder of their victims.
At the resumed trial, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Shuaibu
Labaran, informed the court of the development, which was filed on June 5,
saying that the prosecution has nothing against the 6th defendant.
Labaran said that among other features in the amended
information is the “striking out’’ of Usman Abubakar as a defendant, in line
with the information filed on Feb. 23, 2017.
The prosecution added two other defendants- Mohammed Sani
and Abubakar Habib.
They are to be arraigned, bringing the number of defendants to eight.
Labaran prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him produce the two new
defendants for arraignment.
The discharged defendant’s counsel, Mr K. Abdulkarim urged
the court to speed up his discharge processes.
The judge, Justice John Tsoho, in a short ruling, struck out
the name of the 6th defendant, who has spent four years in custody.
Tsoho adjourned the matter until June 19 for the two
defendants to take their plea.
The Sun
