From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, granted the request by the Department of State Services (DSS) to detain one Emmanuel Osase, who was accused of being a member of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his ruling, gave the security agency the permission to keep Osase in its custody for 60 days, to enable the conclusion of investigations into his alleged involvement with the terror group. The detention order was sequel to an ex parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/409/2024, which the DSS filed through its legal team led by A. A. Ugee.
The motion was brought pursuant to Section 66(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. The court subsequently adjourned the matter till June 3.
Osase, was on March 11, arrested by security operatives for supporting ISIS by not only propagating its messages and opposing the democratic system of government in Nigeria, but for also calling for terrorist attacks on Nigeria and its symbols of sovereignty. The secret security outfit told the court that it would need Osase in custody to enhance ongoing investigations into the level of his commitment to ISIS.
“It is necessary for the Applicant in this case to apply to this court for an order to detain the Respondent for 60 days, pending the conclusion of an ongoing investigation in a case of terrorism. That the Respondent was arrested by a team of personnel from the Applicant’s office for alleged membership and propagation of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) Terrorism messages, including opposition to the democratic system of government and the call for staging terrorist attacks against Nigeria and its symbols of sovereignty,” the DSS averred in an affidavit it brought before the court.
The DSS further disclosed that the respondent was previously jailed in France for five years over terrorism-related offences, adding that he was later deported back to the country after he served his sentence. The prosecution added that notwithstanding Osase’s conviction and sentence, he continued to indulge in acts of terrorism by engaging with a proscribed pro-ISIS online media group known as “al-Alawn Media Foundation.”
That preliminary investigation revealed that the respondent, who is an ex-convict, still engages in terrorist activities which previously led to his conviction in France.
“That the respondent appeared not to have renounced his terrorist ideologies, as he continues to engage with the proscribed pro-ISIS online me