A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Karu, Abuja, has discharged four Lebanese nationals arrested in connection with stockpile of arms and ammunitions and suspected terrorist-related activities in Kano and Abuja.
Following an application made by the Department of State Security Service (DSS) withdrawing the charges against co-owners of Amigo Supermarket, Abuja, Mustapha Darwish Fawaz and Talal Roda, Abdullah Tahini, and Hussain Nurudeen Kossdi, the Magistrate, Muyiwa Oyeyepo, struck out the case.
Cliff Osagie, counsel to SSS told the court yesterday that the Federal Government decided to withdraw the charges on the grounds that the offence of terrorism was beyond the court’s jurisdiction; an application that was not objected to by the Defence counsel, Ahmed Raji.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the suspects were remanded by the court on June 5 on charges bordering on conspiracy and importation of arms for terrorism contrary to Section 97 of the Penal Code and Anti Terrorism Act of 2011 respectively.
The suspects are however, to remain in custody of the security agencies pending the conclusion of investigation and further directives, an SSS official said.