The federal government yesterday in Abuja arraigned five police chiefs at the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly killing the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Malam Mohammed Yusuf and his followers.
The police chiefs were arraigned on fresh charge of terrorism and extra judicial killing allegedly committed while serving in Maiduguri, Borno state on July 30, 2009.
The accused persons, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) John Abang, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) M .A. Akeera, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSD) Mohammed Ahmadu, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mada Buba and Sergeant Adamu Gado.
The fresh charge from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice alleged that the five accused conspired with one another in 2009 and summarily executed the Boko Haram Sect Leader shortly after he was handed over to Police by soldiers who arrested him.
According to the federal government, the offence is contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38, law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 15 1 and2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2004.
But when the charge was read to the accused, they pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
In his pronouncement, Justice Donatus Okorowo directed four of the accused to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted to them by the Kaduna division of the court.
But the fifth accused, Sergeant Adamu Gado, who appeared for the first time in the murder case, was sent to Kuje Prison.
His lawyer Mr. Edwin Inegedu had urged the court to allow him move the bail application for his client but the court refused.
Lawyer to the federal government, Mr. R. Ojabo, had opposed the bail application on the grounds that a copy of the application was just served on him in the courtroom and that he needed time to react to issue raised by the accused.
The case has been adjourned till July 28.