Mohammed Bashir Saleh, one of the suspects standing trial over alleged terrorism, on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja how he joined the Ansaru terrorist group led by Khalid Al-Barnawi.
Saleh, in a video recording played before Justice Emeka Nwite, said he joined the terrorist organisation in Bauchi shortly before the attack on the United Nations (UN) Building in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Abuja UN Building was bombed on Aug. 26, 2011, by the group, leaving over 20 persons dead, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Mohammed Usman, also known as Al-Barnawi, along with other suspected members of his group, was alleged to have carried out the attack.
Al-Barnawi, the alleged leader of the Boko Haram dissident splinter group, Ansaru, and Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello, a.k.a. Datti, Mohammed Salisu, and Yakubu Nuhu, a.k.a. Bello Maishayi, are being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS).
They are among others accused of being members of Ansaru, also known as Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan.
The defendants are also alleged to have conspired among themselves to carry out acts of terrorism between 2011 and 2013 in Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, and other states in the northern part of the country.
At the resumed trial-within-trial on Wednesday, Saleh, in the video, told the court that during the time he joined the group, he had a blossoming relationship with its members.
After the video recording of the interview session involving Saleh was played in open court, the defence counsel cross-examined the third prosecution witness (PW-3), simply identified as “TSR-3.”
Under cross-examination by counsel to the first defendant (Al-Barnawi), F. K. Kaigama, the witness said he works in the Technical Department of the DSS, and that part of his functions includes setting up audio and video recording machines in the interview room.
PW-3 said he also records audio and video of suspects during interview sessions.
On his other functions, the witness said: “In addition to the stated functions, I also undertake computer forensic examinations, mobile phone forensic examinations, and crime scene investigations, including fingerprint collection from crime scenes and analysis at the laboratory.”
He said he did more than set up the forensic audio and video recording machine in relation to the first defendant.
He added that he recorded the audio and video of the interview with the first defendant in real time, that is, as it was happening.
He said the third thing he did in relation to the first defendant was to record the statement-taking session and the translation of the first defendant’s statement.
Regarding whether there is a person named James in the Technical Department where he works, the witness said there are several individuals named James in the Technical Department of the DSS.
At that point, Justice Nwite directed the postponement of further proceedings on the grounds that he had other engagements.
The case was consequently adjourned until March 2 for continuation of the cross-examination of PW-3 in the trial-within-trial.
Al-Barnawi was arrested by the DSS in April 2016 in Lokoja, Kogi State, five years after the attack on the Abuja UN Building.
