The prosecution and one of the two defence attorneys were absent on Thursday, which caused the proceedings to freeze. Justice Nkeonye Maha chose the new dates.
The three Malians, Ramatu Camara, 47, Ganiu Malik, 20, and Abubakar Samasa, 64, are accused of being involved in the explosion that occurred on January 16, 2024, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to reports, the bomb explosion claimed 14 lives, injured numerous others, and damaged a large amount of property. Mr. Adewale Adedeji, the first and second defendants’ attorney, said that Mr. Victor Alma, the prosecutor, called to let him know that he would be missing court because of a bereavement.
Mr. Mohammed Kyri, the third defendant’s attorney, was also not present at the proceedings on Thursday. According to NAN, Justice Ekeret Akpan initially heard the case before being moved to a another court.
Additionally, the Federal Ministry of Justice opposed the Oyo State Ministry of Justice’s wish to take on a prosecuting role in the case. Following several postponements, the court decided on February 24, 2025, that the circumstances of the case precluded the Oyo State Ministry of Justice from taking on a prosecutorial role.
It decided that concerns pertaining to terrorism were the sole purview of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and beyond the jurisdiction of any state’s justice ministry.
On March 6, 2024, Camara, Malik, and Samasa entered a not guilty plea to the five counts that were presented against them. The accusations touch on conspiracy, the use and spread of WMDs, radioactive material storage, and the distribution of biological weapons.
