We Never Arraigned Ogwuche On Terrorism – Police… Releases Statement

The Police High Command yesterday in Abuja has said they
never arraigned Nyanya suspected bomber, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche who was recently freed by a court of law, but said the case
against him was bungled and regrets that the media misled the public for so long. A
press statement released by the command after the cut.

A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CP
Emmanuel Ojukwu read: “The attention of the Nigeria Police High Command has
been drawn to a most misleading media report that charges filed by the Nigeria
Police at the Federal High Court Abuja, were struck out for lack of diligent
prosecution in respect of the suspected terrorist Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche.

“It would be recalled that the Department of State Services
(DSS), that had intelligence on the Nyanya Bombing and was investigating it,
made a formal request to the Nigeria Police to assist in extraditing one Aminu
Sadiq Ogwuche to Nigeria from Sudan, through the Interpol channel of which the
Nigeria Police is well versed.

“It was at this stage and for this reason that the Nigeria
Police Force filed charges against the suspected fugitive Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche,
based on information that he fled to Sudan.

“The filing of charges against the suspect is a legal
procedure to enable the Nigeria Police formally request Sudanese authorities to
grant Nigeria’s extradition request in respect of the suspected fugitive.

“For the records, copy of filed charge(s) against a fugitive
must be appended to documents in support of extradition request made to the
host country, which in this case, is Sudan.

“These facts were made known to the court when it insisted
on the production of the accused even before his extradition to Nigeria.

“Following Ogwuche’s extradition which the Nigeria Police
accomplished successfully, the DSS, obtained a court order to remand the
suspect for an initial period of three months in line with the Prevention of
Terrorism Act and also liaised with the Office of the Attorney-General of the
Federation to undertake his prosecution.

“For the record, at no time did the Nigeria Police arraign
the suspect in court for terrorism related offences. Moreover, the purported
prosecution/arraignment by the Police could not have happened as the Police
could not prosecute a suspect it never arrested, never investigated nor had in
its custody.

“It is therefore grossly erroneous, mischievous and
malicious to impute lack of diligent prosecution to the Police. The Nigeria
Police Force is manifestly and positively committed to the will of Nigerians to
rid the nation of violent crimes like terrorism. Many of our officers have paid
the supreme sacrifice on account of this.

“The Police while respecting the rights of the media to
publish, however appeals that due diligence be observed to ensure that
misleading information is not disseminated to the reading public.”