The Federal Government on Tuesday arraigned a director of the Media Trust Nigeria Limited, Publishers of the Daily Trust newspapers, Malam Muhammed Bello Ilyas Damagun, at a Federal High Court in Abuja, for being a member of a terrorist organisation called ‘The Nigerian Taliban‘.
He was accused of receiving the sum of $300,000.00 from a terrorist organisation known as Alqaeda World Network, Sudan.
According to count one of the three charges read to him, Damagun deposited the $300,000.00 which he allegedly received from the Alqaeda World Network with Habibsons Bank Limited at Windson House, 55-56 St James Street, London in account number 21067695.
Government alleged that the accused intended to use the money to carry out acts of terrorism, an offence contrary to Section 15 (1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on bail.
The prosecutor, Mr. Abdulllahi Mikailu, a state counsel with the Federal Ministry of Justice, however, appeared not to be ready to prosecute the case.
Immediately the suspect pleaded not guilty, he (prosecutor) asked the court to grant him a three-week adjournment to allow him conclude investigation into the case.
He asked the court to adjourn the case for further mention.
But the suspect‘s lawyer, Mr. Abas Ibrahim, opposed the application for adjournment, saying that the accused could not be detained while investigation was still on.
He asked the court to release his client or alternatively strike out the case.
He said, ”This shows that the prosecution is not ready, the accused has been in detention for over 12 days.”
He further said that the charge did not contain proof of evidence.
Replying, the prosecutor said that the suspect was not brought to the court from detention but from his house because he had earlier been granted bail.
He, however, asked the court to take note that the accused was charged with a serious offence that involved an international organisation.
