Hearing of the bail applications filed by three members of the Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement could not proceed due to many pre-election matters before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja.
The Federal Government, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/129/2004, had filed a seven-count charge bordering on Terrorism against Haruna Ali Abbas, Ibrahim Hussaini Musa and Adam Suleiman, who are 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
In the amended charge dated and filed on May 17, 2016 by the prosecution, the defendants were accused, in count one, to have conspired among themselves between 2008 and 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the court to do an act preparatory to an act of terrorism to wit; obtaining Nigeria’s international passport and Iranian visa for the purpose of travelling to Iran for terrorist training.
They were, therefore, said to have committed an offence punishable under Section 17 of Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 as amended by Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013, among other counts.
When the matter was called, Justice Nwite held that he was still busy with pre-election cases, even though the suit was fixed for hearing.
But lead counsel for the defendants, Aliyu Musa Yawuri, prayed the court to hear his clients’ bail applications which had been filed and served on the complainant.
It would be recalled that the three followers of the Islamic cleric were arrested in 2013 and have been in remand before they were moved to Kuje Prison.
The judge consequently adjourned the matter to February 7, 2023 for hearing.
