Kano arms cache: SSS arraigns 3 Lebanese suspects

The State Security Service (SSS) on Thursday brought three Lebanese before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja

.The security agency was acting in compliance with the order of Justice Adeniyi Ademola who had had on Monday ordered the SSS to produce the accused persons in court.

The judge had made the order following  an ex parte application brought by the suspects through their counsel, Robert Clarke (SAN), seeking for the enforcement of their fundamental human right.

But the SSS through one of their operatives, SSS, Mr Terseer Ayaka, opposed  the application.

According to him, the agency has further unearthed grievous terrorism offences allegedly perpetrated by the applicants.

SSS further said that investigation had assumed international dimension that required time and expertise.

It stated that some of the suspects were still at large and a premature release of the applicants was capable of compromising the investigation.
It further averred that 'a preliminary case file had been opened and forwarded to the Attorney General of the Federation for legal advice.

'That to grant the application of the Lebanese is not in the interest of national security and that the activities of the applicants constitute a threat to national security,' the SSS declared.

It also stated that the applicants were members of Hezbollah, an international terrorist organisation and that upon the  arrest of Fawaz, the second applicant, his residence at Wonderland Amusement Park and 58, Ademola Street in Abuja were duly searched and prohibited firearms and other incriminating items were discovered.

The recovered items were marked Exhibit 1 and 1a-d respectively.

The deponent further stated that further investigation led to the arrest of Abdullah on May 12, who was in possession of  USD61,170 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano while on his way to Egypt enroute Lebanon .

At the resumed session of the court, prosecuting counsel, Clifford Osaghie, told the court that they had just served their counter affidavit on the applicants in court.

Confirming the service, counsel for the applicants pleaded for time to respond to it and access to his clients in the SSS custody.

While adjourning to June 27, the court ordered that all parties should exchange their processes and that access should be given to the suspects' counsel to visit them in custody.