By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted an interim order to detain one Emmanuel Osase, a Nigerian suspected to be a member of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) for 60 days.
Justice Ekwo gave the order following an ex parte application filed by the Department of State Security (DSS) through its counsel A.A. Ugee, praying for an order to detain the suspect beyond the stipulated period of time.
When the matter was called, Ugee informed the court of the ex-parte motion on Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/409/2024 which was brought pursuant to Section 66(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
He prayed the court for an order enabling the security outfit to detain Osase for 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Justice Ekwo granted the application as prayed and adjourned until June 3 for report of the progress in the investigation.
Osase, who was arrested on March 11, was accused of propagating the messages of the terrorist group, opposing democratic system of government in Nigeria and calling for terrorists attacks on Nigeria and her symbols of sovereignty.
In affidavit dated March 27 and deposed to by a DSS operative, Ahmad Abubakar attached to the Legal Service Department, National Headquarters, Abuja, he stated that the release of the suspect could jeopardise investigation.
He averred that Osase was arrested by a team of DSS “for alleged membership and propagation of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist messages, including opposition to Democratic System of Government and the call for staging terrorists attacks against Nigeria State and its symbols of sovereignty;”
Abubakar stated that Osase was jailed five years for terrorism-related offences in France and was deported after the completion of his sentence.
He averred that from the service’s preliminary investigation, Osase, who is an ex-convict, still engaged in terrorist activities which previously led to his conviction in France.
He said Osase appeared not to have renounced his terrorist ideologies, “as he continues to engage with the proscribed pro-ISIS online media group known as al-Alawn Media Foundation, whose main objectives is the creation and dissemination of terrorist content and the promotion of terrorist attacks against democratic systems of government such as Nigeria and the western governments, including their interests across the globe.”
He said the suspect, who was born in the Federal Capital Territory, “left Nigeria for France and never returned to Nigeria until his deportation after completion of five years jail term for acts of terrorism and attempt to join the Islamic State (IS) linked terrorist group, Friqat Al-Ghuraba (Group of Foreigners) in Syria.”
Abubakar said Osase’s activities constituted a potent threat to national security and corporate existence of Nigeria, adding that there was need for a thorough investigation of the suspect to ensure that he did not pose any security threat to Nigeria or the world at large.
According to the DSS operative, the respondent is helping with vital Information that will lead to the arrest of other members who are still at large.
He averred that it would be in the interest of justice and national security to grant the application.
