Federal High Court Abuja has granted order for the detention of a Nigerian, Emmanuel Osase, accused of being a member of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, IS for 60 days.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Wednesday while ruling in a motion ex-parte filed by the Department of State Services, DSS.
Counsel for DSS during the proceedings on Wednesday told the court that the matter was brought pursuant to section 66(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. He prayed the court for an order enabling the DSS to detain Osase for 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation.
The trial Judge granted the prayer of the DSS and subsequently adjourned the matter to June 3, 2024. Osase who was arrested on March 11 is accused of propagating the messages of the IS terrorist group, opposing the democratic system of government and calling for terrorist attacks on Nigeria and its symbols of sovereignty.
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In an affidavit dated March 27, 2024, and deposed to by the personnel of the DSS attached to the Legal Service Department, National Headquarters, Abuja, Ahmad Abubakar, he averred that the respondent was arrested by a team of personnel from the applicant’s office for alleged membership and propagation of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS terrorist messages, including opposition to the Democratic System of Government and the call for staging terrorist attacks against Nigeria State and its symbols of sovereignty;
Abubakar stated that Osase was jailed for five years for terrorism-related offences in France and was deported after the completion of his sentence, noting that from the Service’s preliminary investigation, Osase was still involved in terrorist activities. He said the respondent still engaged with a proscribed pro-ISIS online media group known as “al-Alawn Media Foundation, as his activities still constitute a potent threat to national security and corporate existence of Nigeria;”
He, however, urged the court to grant the request of the Service, adding there was a need to painstakingly probe the respondent to ensure he does not constitute a security treat to the country and world at large.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
