The trial of the suspected
bomber of ThisDay newsapers’ office in Kaduna, Mustapha
Umar, took a new dimension yesterday with a threat by the suspect that one of
the witnesses in the case would die for telling lies.
bomber of ThisDay newsapers’ office in Kaduna, Mustapha
Umar, took a new dimension yesterday with a threat by the suspect that one of
the witnesses in the case would die for telling lies.
The four witnesses that were
called in the case yesterday wore mask to protect their identities.
called in the case yesterday wore mask to protect their identities.
The first witness, who refused
to give his real name, but was named Ismail by the court and marked PW1, said
he was at the scene when the accused threw the bomb that exploded and killed
about three persons in the building where the newspaper and two others were
located.
to give his real name, but was named Ismail by the court and marked PW1, said
he was at the scene when the accused threw the bomb that exploded and killed
about three persons in the building where the newspaper and two others were
located.
Before the court started taking
evidence from the witnesses, the accused asked the witness to remove the mask
on his face to identify him.
evidence from the witnesses, the accused asked the witness to remove the mask
on his face to identify him.
But the court ruled otherwise.
The witness in his evidence
said, “On April 26, 2013, at about 10am, I was passing through Kontagora Road
in Kaduna, and I saw people gathered and I moved close to them to find out what
was going on.
said, “On April 26, 2013, at about 10am, I was passing through Kontagora Road
in Kaduna, and I saw people gathered and I moved close to them to find out what
was going on.
“I later saw a Honda car
running towards the building and when it finally stopped, the crowed that had
gathered rushed toward the car to rescue the occupant. It was in the process of
rescuing him that we discovered that he had a bomb on him and the car was also
wired with camp gas cylinder”.
running towards the building and when it finally stopped, the crowed that had
gathered rushed toward the car to rescue the occupant. It was in the process of
rescuing him that we discovered that he had a bomb on him and the car was also
wired with camp gas cylinder”.
At this point of the evidence
of the witness, the accused interjected and said in Hausa language that the
witness would lose his life for telling lies against him.
of the witness, the accused interjected and said in Hausa language that the
witness would lose his life for telling lies against him.
Umar was accused of bombing SOJ
Plaza in Kaduna occupied by ThisDay, The Moment and the Sunnewspapers.
Plaza in Kaduna occupied by ThisDay, The Moment and the Sunnewspapers.
At the last hearing of the
case, the suspect was represented by Mr. Felix Umai and Mohammed Umar, both
from Manga Chambers in Abuja,
case, the suspect was represented by Mr. Felix Umai and Mohammed Umar, both
from Manga Chambers in Abuja,
He, however, had to change
counsel as he was represented yesterday by Sulaiman, who told the court that he
was just briefed Monday.
counsel as he was represented yesterday by Sulaiman, who told the court that he
was just briefed Monday.
But before the adjournment, the
prosecutor, Simon Labaran, had asked the court to hear his application to
exclude members of the public except the press and the parties in the case,
from witnessing proceedings.
prosecutor, Simon Labaran, had asked the court to hear his application to
exclude members of the public except the press and the parties in the case,
from witnessing proceedings.
The trial continues today.
Source:
Blueprint
Blueprint
