The Ibadan Division of the Federal High Court, on Thursday, dismissed the prayer of a suspect, Asmau Omar, to reject the confessional statement tendered against him by the State Security Service.

Mr Omar, Olamide Okesola, Emmanuel Olatunji, and Adeleke Adewale are standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, aiding and abetting terrorism and unlawful sale of ammunition.

In his ruling, Justice Ekerete Akpan said the prosecution was able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt in the trial-within-trial session that Mr Omar voluntarily made the statement that he and other defendants committed the crime of selling bullets to terrorists.

Citing some sections of the law to support his ruling, Mr Akpan held that the video clip evidence demonstrated that the defendant was not forced to make his oral confession or sign the statement by the SSS investigator.

“The statement is, therefore, admitted and the defendant’s application is dismissed,” the judge said.

Mr Akpan adjourned the matter until October 12 for continuation of trial.

The defence counsel, S.F. Adeboye, had, in April, objected to the admissibility of the confessional statement as an exhibit before the court.

Mr Adeboye noted that his client was forced to sign the statement when his finger was dragged to the thumbprint.

SSS prosecutor T.A. Nurudeen had informed the court that the four defendants were caught having links with terrorists and even sold 1,005 AK47 bullets to them. 

(NAN)