UN Bombing: Court Admits Evidence Against Al-Barnawi, Others

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday admitted in evidence three video clips supplied by the Department of State Services (DSS) to puncture claims of duress by five suspected masterminds of the 2011 bombing of the United Nations complex in Abuja facing trial.

The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, fixed December 5 for continuation of the trial-within-trial of five defendants, including Khalid Al‑Barnawi

The trial -within – trial will involve the playback of video clips in the courtroom to determine the veracity of claims by the defendants that they made their extra-judicial statements before the DSS under duress.

The DSS accused the five terror suspects led by Al-Barnawi of being the masterminds of the August 26, 2011 bombing of the United Nations complex in Abuja. At least 20 people were killed and more than 70 others were injured in the attack.

Captured in 2016, Al-Barnawi is facing trial alongside Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello aka Datti, Mohammed Salisu and Yakubu Nuhu aka Bello Maishayi.

The trial has suffered several delays due to legal and procedural challenges thrown up by the defendants, including the absence of legal representation on several occasions the suspects were brought to court.