FG arraigns Al – Barnawi and others for hostage taking, murder

The Federal government has formally charged Khalid al-Barnawi, leader of Boko Haram dissident splinter group, Ansaru and six others before a Federal High court sitting in Abuja, on charges bothering on hostage taking and murder of internationally protected persons.

Al – Barnawi whose real name is Mohammed Usman who was allegedly responsible for the 2011 bombing of the United Nations (UN) building in Abuja, was also involved in many terrorist attacks in states of the federation, including Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Sokoto and FCT-Abuja.

The leader of the terror group was arraigned alongside Mohammed Saleh, Umar Bello (Abu Azzan), Mohammed Salisu (Datti), Yakubu Nuhu (Bello Maishayi), Usman Abubakar (Mugiratu) and Halima Haliru, al – Barnawi’s second wife in an 11 count charge.

They were accused of kidnapping Christopher Mcmamus (Briton), Franco Lamoliara (Italian), Francis Colomp (French) and Edgar FridzRampach (German) at Birnin Kebbi where they were carrying out construction work and detained them at Mabera area of Sokoto State, before they were summarily murdered.

Al – Barnawi and his cohorts were also charged for intentionally killing seven internationally protected persons namely Carlos BouAzziz, Brendan Vaughan, Silvano Trevisan, Konstantinos Karras, Ghaida Yaser Sa’ad (F), Julio Ibrahim El-Khouli and Imad El-Andari and buried them in a shallow grave at Ikirima Boko Haram Camp of Sambisa Forest.

Al- Barnawi’s wife, was accused of having “information which you know to be of material assistance in preventing members of boko Haram splinter group known as Jama’atuAnsarulMuslimina Fi Biladis Sudan a.k.aANSARU from carrying out acts of terrorism but failed to disclosed it to the relevant security agencies you thereby committed an offence punishable under S.8 (1) (a) of Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 as amended in 2013”.

The defendants who never showed any sign of remorse while they pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them before Justice John Tsoho, however pleaded with the court through their counsel for them to be remanded in the prison custody, rather than the detention facility of the Department of State Service (DSS), so they can have access to family members and their lawyers.

Earlier, after taking their plea, the prosecuting counsel, Labaran Shuaibu informed the court about its plan to file for witness protection for the prosecuting witnesses, which he said he had notified the defence counsels about.

He further undertook before the court to ensure that the defendants have access to their families, “not only once a week as they pray but frequently. I concede to the request for accelerated hearing in this matter, subject to trashing of all preliminary issues”.

Justice Tsoho subsequently adjourned the matter to April 11, 2017 for hearing on applications, while the defendants be remanded in Kuje prison.

SEYI ANJORIN, Abuja