The State Security Service (SSS) has brought forth fresh allegations against Husseni Ismaila (aka Maitangaran), the purported mastermind behind the 2014 multiple bomb attacks at the Kano Central Mosque, resulting in the tragic loss of numerous lives, including police personnel.
The defendant, Husseni Ismaila, was re-arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja with the prosecuting counsel, E.A. Aduda, reiterating the SSS’s submission of an amended charge comprising four counts. Urging the court to have the charges read and the defendant to enter his plea, the prosecuting counsel set the stage for the legal proceedings.
Upon the court’s call, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all four counts, with the allegations encompassing his affiliation with Boko Haram, direct involvement in an act of terrorism, and the confession of bombing the Kano Central Mosque leading to the loss of numerous lives, including police personnel. This contravenes the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013, drawing attention to the severity of the charges against the defendant.
As the trial loomed, the defence counsel, Peter Dajang, interjected, citing the prosecution’s disregard for a court order requiring the defendant’s transfer from SSS custody to the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, emphasizing the need for legal and familial access. The defence counsel argued against proceeding with the trial on the grounds of the prosecution’s failure to comply with the court’s directive, despite their opportunity to appeal the order when initially issued.
Furthermore, the defence counsel highlighted the court’s alleged lack of jurisdiction to entertain the prosecutorial application to modify the order, emphasizing the prosecution’s delayed response and failure to seek leave to apply out of time. The defence lawyer underscored the finality of a court order and maintained that the appropriate recourse for the prosecution was to file an appeal rather than urge the court to review its decision.
Contrarily, the prosecuting counsel asserted that their request to alter the order was pending, seeking a ruling from the court. Consequently, the judge adjourned the hearing until 25 January 2024, to deliberate over the application to vary the transfer order, with 7 February 2024 set for the continuation of the substantive matter.
As the legal battle unfolds, the fate of Husseni Ismaila remains in the balance, with proceedings set to resume in the coming months.
