One of the suspects being prosecuted by the Department of State Services, DSS, alongside Khalid Al-Barnawi and three others, for masterminding the August 26, 2011 bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja how he joined the terror organisation.
At the resumed trial on Wednesday, the second defendant, Mohammed Bashir Saleh, in a video recording played in court, said he joined Al-Barnawi in Bauchi shortly before the attack on the UN building, and that from that moment, their relationship blossomed.
Al-Barnawi, a terrorist kingpin, was arrested by the DSS in April 2016 in Lokoja, Kogi State, five years after the attack on the Abuja UN building. It was first attack on an international agency’s property in the country, which left over 20 individuals dead and more than 70 others injured.
Al-Barnawi, also known variously as Kafuri/ Naziru/Alhaji Yahaya/Mallam Dauda/Alhaji Tanimu, is being prosecuted by the DSS along with Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello, aka Datti, Mohammed Salisu and Yakubu Nuhu, aka Bello Maishayi.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the court saw another video recording of the interview session involving Saleh and commenced the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness in the ongoing trial-within-trial being conducted to ascertain the voluntariness or otherwise of the confessional statements made by the defendants.
Under cross-examination by FK Kaigama, lawyer to the first defendant (Al-Barnawi), the witness identified as “TSR3” said he works in the Technical Department of the DSS and that part of his functions includes setting up of audio/video recording machine in the interview room.
The witness said he also engages in audio/video recording of suspects during interview sessions.
On what are his other functions, the witness said, “In addition to the stated functions, I also undertake computer forensic examinations, mobile phones forensic examination, crime scene investigation, like fingerprint collection from the crime scene and analysis at the laboratory.”
The witness said he did more than setting up of the forensic audio/video recording machine in relation to the first defendant. He added that he did the audio/video recording of the interview session of the first defendant in real time (that is, as it was happening).
He said another thing he did in relation to the first defendant was the audio/visual recording of the statement taking session and the audio/visual recording of the translation of the statement.
On whether there is a person known as James in the Technical Department where he works, the witness said there are several James in the Technical Department of the DSS.
At that point, Justice Emeka Nwite directed the postponement of further proceedings on the grounds that he has other engagements.
With the agreement of lawyers to parties in the case, Justice Nwite adjourned till March 2 for the continuation of the cross-examination of PW3 in trial-within-trial.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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