The State Security Services (SSS) on Thursday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that it was not in the interest of national security to release three Lebanese arrested in connection with the cache of arms found in the Kano house of one of them.
It also alleged that the accused persons are members of the international terror group, Hezbollah.
These were contained in a counter-affidavit deposed to by an SSS operative, Terseer Ayaka, to oppose the suspects’ application for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.
The suspects, Mustapha Fawaz (owner of Amigo Supermarket), Abdallah Tahini and Tala Ahmed Roda, had gone to the court demanding N1 billion over their alleged illegal detention.
In compliance with an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja, SSS produced the suspects in court on Thursday.
They were arrested on suspicion of importing arms into the country for alleged terrorist activities.
However, the SSS in a counter affidavit said it had further established a much more serious terrorism offence allegedly committed by the applicants.
When the matter came up for hearing, counsel to the Lebanese, Robert Clarke (SAN), told the court that the SSS’ counter affidavit was served on his clients Thursday morning.
He consequently requested the court to grant him five days to respond. He assured the court that his response would be filed by Monday.
The court also gave an order to allow some selected lawyers access to the suspects as agreed by the two parties.
The court also made an order to produce the suspects in court whenever the case comes up for hearing.
The SSS did not object to the order to allow lawyers have access to them.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola consequently adjourned the matter to June 21.
Wives of the suspects were in court as well as some of their relatives.
In the counter affidavit, the SSS said investigation into the crimes allegedly committed by the Lebanese had assumed international dimension that required time and expertise to conclude.
It further stated that some of the suspects were still at large and that a premature release of the applicants was capable of compromising the investigation.
The security agency said a preliminary case file had been opened and forwarded to the Attorney General of the Federation for legal advice.
It reiterated that to grant the application of the Lebanese was not in the interest of national security.
The SSS stated that the applicants were members of Hezbollah, an international terrorist organisation.
It also stated that upon his arrest, Fawaz’s (second applicant) residence at Wonderland Amusement Park and 58 Ademola Street in Abuja were dully searched and prohibited firearms and other incriminating items recovered therein.
The recovered items were marked ‘Exhibit 1’ and ‘1a-d’ respectively.
The deponent also stated that further investigation led to the arrest of Abdullah on May 12 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on his way to Egypt enroute Lebanon.
He was said to be in possession of $61,170.
The court had last Monday ordered the SSS, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation to produce the suspects before it on June 13.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola gave the order following an ex-parte application by counsel to the suspects, including Robert Clarke (SAN), Ahmed Raja (SAN) with 12 others.
The suspects had sued the three defendants challenging their arrest and continued detention.
Following the ex-parte motion, the judge ordered as follows: “That an order is hereby made directing the respondents, particularly the 1st and 2nd respondents to produce the applicants in court on June 13, 2013.
“That it is further ordered that the applicants motion on notice dated the 3rd day of June, 2013 already served on the respondents is fixed for June 13 for hearing.”
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