courtesy: Nigerian Police
The
alleged mastermind of the April 14 blast in Nyanya, Abuja, Aminu
Ogwuche, has been extradited by Sudan to Nigeria on Tuesday.
Ogwuche, who was handed over to the
Interpol Unit of the Nigeria Police Force by the Sudanese authorities
was flown into the country in a special flight from Khartoum, Sudan,
which touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 3pm on
Tuesday.
On hand to receive him at the
Presidential wing of the airport were the spokespersons of the Police,
ACP Frank Mba, Department of State Services, Marilyn Ogar, Army, Maj.
Gen. Chris Olukolade and the Coordinator, National Information Centre,
Mike Omeri.
The suspect is expected to face trial for
terrorism along with other suspects that were arrested in connection
with the blast which killed more than 70 people and injured over 120
others at Nyanya area of Abuja.
Ogwuche, who looked gaunt in a shirt and a
pair of trousers, was swiftly taken to an unknown detention facility in
the FCT by armed security operatives. Addressing journalists, Omeri
said that the Boko Haram operative would be interrogated and prosecuted.
He said, “We have just successfully been
able to secure his extradition from Sudan and he is back to his home
country to answer questions.
The usual procedure will take place, he
will be interrogated appropriately and charged to court when all the
processes are concluded.
The fight against insurgency and the effort to get our girls back is top priority of the Federal Government.”
Ogwuche had been held in Sudan since he
was declared wanted by the Department of State Security which identified
him as the mastermind of the blast along with one Rufai Tsiga, who is
still at large.
He was a student of Arabic Language at
the International University of Africa, Sudan. Before his arrest and
detention in Sudan by Interpol, the Department of State Security, had on
May 11, 2014, announced a N25m reward for anyone who could give
information that could lead to the arrest of Ogwuche and Tsiga.
The service had also paraded five
suspects including Ahmad Abubakar, 43; Muhammed Ishaq, 30; Yau Saidu,
28; Anas Isah, 22; and Adamu Yusuf, a cleric, 43, for their involvement
in the bombing.
Ogar had described Ogwuche, who was born
in the United Kingdom, as an Army deserter, who served in the
Intelligence Unit of the Nigerian Army at Child Avenue, Arakan Barracks,
Lagos, between 2001 and 2006.
The suspect was arrested on November 12,
2011 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from
the UK for suspected involvement in terrorism-related activities, but
was subsequently released by the SSS after much pressures from the human
rights community.
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