UN bombing trial Abuja gets accelerated hearing as Federal High Court orders day-to-day proceedings in the 2011 Abuja UN building attack case

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted an application by the Department of State Services (DSS) for accelerated hearing in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the August 26, 2011 bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja.

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Justice Emeka Nwite approved the request following submissions by prosecuting counsel, Alex Izinyon (SAN), who noted that the case had been pending for nearly nine years.

Izinyon urged day-to-day hearings in line with the court’s practice directions on terrorism-related cases, emphasising that expeditious resolution served the interests of all parties.

Counsel to the defendants did not oppose the application, after which the court granted it.

The accused include Al-Barnawi, also known as Kafuri, Naziru, Alhaji Yahaya, Mallam Dauda, and Alhaji Tanimu, alongside Mohammed Bashir Saleh; Umar Mohammed Bello, also known as Datti and Mohammed Salisu; and Yakubu Nuhu, also known as Bello Maishayi.

During proceedings, a DSS witness and computer forensic expert, identified as PW3, testified in a trial-within-trial to determine whether the defendants’ statements were made voluntarily.

He explained that all interviews between 2016 and 2017 were professionally recorded on tamper-proof devices in compliance with the Evidence Act and international standards.

Under cross-examination, the witness dismissed claims that the recording devices could be edited, paused, or compromised, and confirmed that cautionary words were administered to the defendants before interviews.

He also clarified that the faces of interviewers were not captured to protect their security, and any inadvertent exposure could not be tampered with.

The witness maintained that all official recordings had been submitted to the court and adhered strictly to DSS standard operating procedures, ensuring the integrity of evidence.