Terrorism: Suspect accuses SSS of torture during interrogation

A suspected terrorist, Saidi Adewumi, standing trial alongside Abdullahi Mustapha Berende for allegedly recruiting new members for an Iran based terrorist organization, has told an Abuja Federal High Court, that he was tortured by officials of the State Security Services (SSS) during interrogation.

Adewumi told the court sitting before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed during a cross examination by the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Chime Onwuegbu that, “there were intimidation, coercion and use of electric baton by the SSS officials during interrogation”.
He said that he was forced to write the statement dated January 15, 2013.
After the cross and re-examination by counsels in the matter, the trial Judge, Justice Mohammed adjourned till July 10, 2014 for adoption of written addresses of parties.

It would be recalled that the court had last year ordered trial-within-trial in the terrorism charge against the two accused persons.
They were said to have collected 3000 Euros and $20, 000 from the Iran terrorist group in order to source and train terrorist-minded Nigerians fluent in English language.

The federal government told the court that some of the persons that benefited from their training, among whom included Suleiman Olayinka Sake and Aminu Mohammed Yusuf, are currently at large.
Their alleged offence is punishable under section 5(1) and 8 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013.

In his testimony, the masked witness told the court that the duo were separately apprehended on December 17 and 24, 2012, saying while the 1st accused person, Berende, was arrested in Illorin, Kwara State, the 2nd accused, was apprehended at Alagbado Station in Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State.
The Federal Government alleged that Abdullahi, while in Iran, had information to commit terrorism acts but concealed such information from security operatives, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 as amended.