The Director, Operations, State Security Service (SSS), Mr Mathew Seiyefa has denied allegation that he had prior knowledge of the plan to carry out the 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja.
Seiyefa made the denial when he testified as a prosecution witness in the trial of Edmund Ebuwares before an Abuja Federal High Court on Wednesday.
Ebuwares was charged for hoarding information about the planned Oct 1, 2010 bombing in Abuja.
The director nformed the court that Ebuwares had withdrawn his claim before a joint interrogation team that he had informed him of the plan.
“In that joint interrogation, the accused person (Ebuwares) reneged that portion of his statement where he had claimed he informed me about the planned blast.''
Another prosecution witness named `Mr X’, while testifying said that he had informed Ebuwares about the plans to bomb Abuja on Independence Day.
“I had also told the former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, Mrs Tinibe Koripamo-Agari and the Secretary to the Brass Local Government Council, who was a close pal of the former governor.
“I also went out of my way to inform a number of ex-leaders of militant groups in the Niger Delta which included `Gen. Boy Loof’ about the plans to bomb Abuja. That is why I have not been prosecuted.
“When I told Ebuwares about it, he did not say anything.
“I had chosen to tell him because of his closeness to Henry Oka; I had warned him to be careful with Oka because of his disposition to carry out the attack.
“I had in March 2010 participated in the bombing of Warri, Delta State along with Emmanuel Allison, Emmanuel Pathfinder, Ben and one Stanley so I understand the intricacies.
“I make bold to say that Ebuwares was told about the plans to bomb Abuja on Independence Day of 2010 in September.''
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the court had granted Ebuwares a separate trial when he challenged his inclusion in a treasonable felony charge brought against Oka and two other suspects.
NAN recalls that one of the suspects, Tiemkenfa Osvwo had died in Kuje Prison before the commencement of the trial.
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