SSS ignores court judgment ordering opening of Amigo Supermarket, Wonderland Park
The co-owner of the two businesses was found not guilty of terrorism on Friday
Despite a court judgement on Friday ordering Nigerian security agencies, particularly the Department of State Security Service, SSS, to unlock two businesses in Abuja, the security service has refused to abide by the judgement.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday freed Mustapha Fawaz, the owner of Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park, of terrorism charges and ordered that the two businesses, locked up by the SSS, be reopened.
Amigo is one of Abuja’s busiest supermarkets while Wonderland is the Nigerian capital’s largest amusement park.
The businesses were shut in May when Mr. Fawaz and two other Lebanese, Tahal Roda and Abdullah Thani, were arrested after a large cache of arms was found by security officers in a residence in Kano. The men were subsequently detained and tried for illegal arms importation and terrorism.
In his ruling on Friday, Justice Adeniyi found Mr. Roda guilty of the charges and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He, however, freed the other two Lebanese, saying the state could not prove the charges against them. Mr. Roda had admitted being a resident of the compound in Kano where the arms were discovered. He also confessed that he was drafted to service the arms on the instruction of the owner of the building, Abdulhassan Tahir, who is at large.
When PREMIUM TIMES visited Amigo Supermarketin Wuse 2 area of Abuja on Monday afternoon, the building was still locked up with SSS operatives still on guard. One of the operatives, who refused to disclose his name, simply said he was obeying orders by being there.
The Wonderland Amusement Park was also still locked up although there were no visible security officials there.
Efforts to the reach the SSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, on why the agency was yet to obey the court judgement were unsuccessful.
Ms. Ogar did not answer or return calls to her telephone. She also did not respond to a text message enquiry.
Despite a court judgement on Friday ordering Nigerian security agencies, particularly the Department of State Security Service, SSS, to unlock two businesses in Abuja, the security service has refused to abide by the judgement.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday freed Mustapha Fawaz, the owner of Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park, of terrorism charges and ordered that the two businesses, locked up by the SSS, be reopened.
Amigo is one of Abuja’s busiest supermarkets while Wonderland is the Nigerian capital’s largest amusement park.
The businesses were shut in May when Mr. Fawaz and two other Lebanese, Tahal Roda and Abdullah Thani, were arrested after a large cache of arms was found by security officers in a residence in Kano. The men were subsequently detained and tried for illegal arms importation and terrorism.
In his ruling on Friday, Justice Adeniyi found Mr. Roda guilty of the charges and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He, however, freed the other two Lebanese, saying the state could not prove the charges against them. Mr. Roda had admitted being a resident of the compound in Kano where the arms were discovered. He also confessed that he was drafted to service the arms on the instruction of the owner of the building, Abdulhassan Tahir, who is at large.
When PREMIUM TIMES visited Amigo Supermarketin Wuse 2 area of Abuja on Monday afternoon, the building was still locked up with SSS operatives still on guard. One of the operatives, who refused to disclose his name, simply said he was obeying orders by being there.
The Wonderland Amusement Park was also still locked up although there were no visible security officials there.
Efforts to the reach the SSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, on why the agency was yet to obey the court judgement were unsuccessful.
Ms. Ogar did not answer or return calls to her telephone. She also did not respond to a text message enquiry.
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