The Federal Government on Monday arraigned a varsity don, Dr. Nazeef Yunus, an Assistant Lecturer in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Kogi State University, and two others over alleged involvement in terrorism activities.
Yunus and the two others – Umar Musa and Salami Abdullahi – are alleged to be leaders of a Boko Haram cell in Kogi State.
The suspects pleaded not guilty to the eight-count terrorism charge filed against them when they were arraigned before Justice Gabriel Kolawole.
Besides the alleged engagement in acts of terrorism, they were accused of illegal possession of weapons including two AK47s, two magazines and 60 rounds of ammunition.
They were also accused of recruiting and organising members of the Kogi State Boko Haram cell, in addition to funding the outlawed terrorist organisation.
Abdullahi, a prominent businessman, who reportedly owns a filling station in Kogi State, was equally accused of using the premises of the enterprise to facilitate terrorist activities.
The lecturer, Yunus, who was alleged to be the spiritual leader and coordinator of the Boko Haram sect in Kogi State, and the two others have been in the custody of the SSS since their arrest in October 2013.
The SSS had accused the suspects of planning to carry out an attack in parts of Kogi State before they were arrested at a mosque in Zuba, a town near Abuja, while on their way to Zambisa in Maiduguri, Borno State, for training.
The security agency said the suspects planned to install Sharia in Kogi State.
It would be recalled that three other suspected members of the Kogi State Boko Haram cell – Mustapha Yusuf, Ismaila Abdulazeez, and Ibrahim Isa Hayafu – were freed by the court after it emerged that was no evidence against them.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole ordered that the accused persons should be remanded in the custody of the Kyuje Prisons, Abuja.
The court will on February 10 hear a bail application filed by the accused persons.
The Federal Government will commence their prosecution on March 18.
