7 Suspected Boko Haram Members Arraigned For Robbing Banks In Bauchi
SAN FRANCISCO, February 20, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court sitting in Bauchi, Wednesday, arraigned seven persons accused of robbing some banks in the state in 2011 for the purpose of raising funds to boost the operations of Boko Haram.
The accused persons, Usman Sani, Abdulrahman Musa, Mahmud Mohammed, Kabir Mohammed, Umar Danjuma, Ibrahim Musa Abba and Abdullahi Lawan, were arraigned on a 13-count charge at the court presided over by Justice A.R Mohammed.
Their plea was however not taken since they had no legal representation.
They told the court, through an interpreter as they claimed not to understand English language, that they wished to have legal representation but do not have the means to procure the services of lawyers to defend them in view of the charges brought against them.
The prosecutor, Mr. D. E. Kaswe volunteered to write the Nigeria Legal Aid Council to provide the accused persons with legal representations and asked the court to remand them at Kuje Prison pending when they would secure legal representation for them.
Subsequently, the trial judge, Justice A. R Mohammed, ordered that they be remanded in Kuje Prison and also directed that they be allowed access to their relatives.
According to the charges against the accused, they allegedly, on 18th July, 2011 and 4th December, 2011, at Alkaleri town in Bauchi State, with intent to raise funds and support Boko Haram's terrorists activities, armed themselves with dangerous assorted weapons, improvised explosive devices, and robbed Unity Bank of Nigeria Plc., Alkaleri branch in the state, carting away the sum of N17.8 million, an offence of rendering support for terrorism contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 and punishable under section 4(2) of the Act.
They were also alleged to have attacked the Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters, Bauchi, where they assisted terrorists and facilitating terrorists activities.
They were also accused of robbing Intercontinental Bank Plc., Azare branch, where the sum of N7.3 million was allegedly stolen before attacking Guaranty Trust Bank at same location in Azare where they stole N25.1 million.
At Tafawa Balewa Town, also in Bauchi State, the accused persons were alleged to have shot sporadically and in the process, killing DSP Ola Mukaila Adeleke, the DPO of Tafawa Balewa Divisional Police Headquarters and CPL Babangida Ibrahim, TRF Suleiman Ibrahim and Mohammed Adamu, all security and law enforcement personnel.
They also allegedly set the Area Command and Divisional Police Headquarters, Azare, ablaze, thereby causing monumental damage to the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force.