NIGERIAN TERROR SUSPECTS DENIED BAIL, PLEAD NOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002476 SIPDIS SIPDIS DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2017 TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR NI SUBJECT: NIGERIAN TERROR SUSPECTS DENIED BAIL, PLEAD NOT GUILTY Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b & d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Five individuals charged with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts and possession of prohibited firearms and explosives, appeared in court, pled not guilty, and were denied bail. Two also face charges in connection with the attempted murder of one Bulama Mohammed Shuaibu. The trial was adjourned until January 22, with the accused to remain in detention. A possible surprise witness for the prosecution may lead to the conviction of two on attempted murder, and possibly all on the terrorism charges. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Five individuals charged with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts and possession of prohibited firearms and explosives appeared in court November 29 and pled not guilty. Poloffs attended the hearing at which Umar Hussani (age 32), Abubakar Adam Kambar (30),Awalu Haruna (31),Dauda Abdulmumin Ja'e (listed as 31 in the charges, described as 28 in court),and Abubakar Abdulhamid (30),all male, were read the charges against them and individually entered their pleas. The accused were said to be in possession of "One AK47 Riffle (sic),two live ammunitions, Seven Dynamites, Fertilizer (urea) and eleven explosives devices with intent to use same to attack Government facilities and installations in Lagos and Ibadan." The individuals were charged under Sections 15(2) and 46 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act for acts punishable under same. They remain in detention, having been denied bail. The case was adjourned until January 22. ¶3. (SBU) In count 3 of the 9 counts Abubakar Adam Kambar is charged with having "caused grave bodily injury to one Bulama Mohammed Shuaibu." Count 4 accuses Abubakar Abdulhamid of "shooting the said Bulama Mohammed Shuaibu with a pistol," while Count 5 maintains that Kambar "provide(d) a pistol to Abubakar Abdulhamid to shoot to death Bulama Mohammed Shuaibu." ¶4. (C) COMMENT: The "Government facilities" targeted are not specified as either Nigerian or other, though press reports have quoted unidentified "senior officers" of the State Security Service as saying the targets were "Western interests" and that those detained were planning attacks which were the subject of Post's September warden message. The individuals were charged under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, presumably because the National Assembly has still not passed the antiterrorism bill sent to it in the waning days of the previous Administration. Post will use this case to stress to relevant committee chairmen in the National Assembly the urgency of passing specific antiterror legislation, though the EFCC statute does grant it authority to pursue and prosecute terrorism cases. (Note: The focus of the EFCC is on corruption, not terrorism, so this is a less than adequate mechanism in our view.) ¶5. (C) When PolOff asked one of the prosecutors for further information about the identity of Bulama Shuaibu, the attorney made a cryptic remark which suggested that Shuaibu may be a surprise witness who could help the prosecution convict Kambar and Abdulhamid of attempted murder, in addition to the terror charges. END COMMENT. PIASCIK