Alleged Boko Haram Membership: DSS re-arraigns ex-lecturer, two others

The State Security Service (SSS) on Monday re-arraigned a former
lecturer of the Kogi State University, Mohammed Nazeef, and two
others before Justice Iyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in
Abuja.

According to the SSS, Mr Nazeef, 44, who hails from Idah, Kogi
State, completed his secondary education at El-Kanemi College,
Maiduguri before he graduated from the Islamic University of
Medina, Saudi Arabia.

After his National Youth Service Corp in Jos, he obtained a
Master’s degree from the University of Jos before obtaining a Ph.D
in Arabic and Islamic studies from the Kogi State University where
he was an assistant lecturer.

Mr Nazeef with Musa Umar and Salami Abdullahi (a.k.a Asta) were
re-arraigned on an amended eight-count charge for allegedly being
members of a Boko Haram cell.

They were earlier arraigned before Justice Gabriel Kolawole
before he was transferred to the Court of Appeal.

At the resumed hearing, counsel for the SSS, Adewumi Aloko, told
the court that the charges against the accused had been amended and
that they had to take a fresh plea.

One of the counts reads: “That you Mohammed Nazeef Yunus, adult,
male, of Idah in Kogi State, Musa Umar, adult, male, of Ankpa in
Kogi State, Salami Abdullahi (a.k.a Asta), adult, male, of Ayingba,
in Kogi State, on diverse dates during the months of May to
October, 2013 at Ayingba in Kogi State within the jurisdiction of
this honourable court attended meetings at a fuel service station
owned by Salami Abdullahi (a.k.a Asta) situated at Ayingba, marked
road also at No. 24 Iyale road, and at other places at Ayingba,
Kogi State, which meetings you knew were concerned and connected
with an act of terrorism and Boko Haram, a proscribed terrorist
group. You thereby committed an offence contrary to section 4 of
the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013(as amended).”

They pleaded “not guilty” to the amended charges.

The defence team, thereafter, prayed the court to allow the
defendants to continue with the bail earlier granted them by the
court.

The request of the defence was granted by Mr Ekwo, who adjourned
to October 21, 22, 23 and 24 for “commencement of trial.”

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NAF Returns to Sambisa, Blasts Terrorists’
Targets
Video: https://youtu.be/FySg2jCrSvc^[1]

In continuation of its sustained air strikes against
terrorists’ targets in Borno State, the Air Task Force (ATF) of
Operation LAFIYA DOLE has severely degraded another Boko Haram
Terrorists (BHTs) hideout in the Sambisa Forest. The operation was
executed yesterday, 16 June 2019, after persistent Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions revealed heavy
presence of BHTs at a new camp with several structures hidden under
the thick foliage of the Forest.

Accordingly, the ATF dispatched an Alpha Jet to attack
the location. Its bombs hit the target area, with devastating
effects on several of the camouflaged structures, neutralizing
their BHT occupants.

The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces,
will sustain the effort to completely degrade the terrorists in the
Northeast.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force