The Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted three video clips presented by the Department of State Services (DSS) in the trial-within-trial of five suspects accused of orchestrating the 2011 bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite admitted the videos on Friday and fixed December 5 for the continuation of proceedings, during which the clips will be played in court to test the defendants’ claims that their extra-judicial statements were obtained under duress.
The DSS alleges that the defendants, led by Khalid Al-Barnawi, masterminded the August 26, 2011 attack that killed 20 people and injured over 70. Al-Barnawi, arrested in 2016, is being tried alongside Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello (also known as Datti), Mohammed Salisu, and Yakubu Nuhu (also known as Bello Maishayi.
The case has faced multiple delays over the years due to procedural objections and the absence of legal representation for the suspects. Progress resumed after DSS Director General Oluwatosin Ajayi directed that all terrorism cases under the service’s watch be expedited.
Justice Nwite had earlier admitted extra-judicial statements made by three other defendants – Haruna Ali Abbas, Ibrahim Hussaini Musa, and Adam Sulaiman – who are being prosecuted for allegedly spying on U.S. and Israeli interests on behalf of individuals in Iran. Their case, which dates back to 2014, also went through a trial-within-trial to determine whether their statements were voluntary.
While the defendants claimed they were tortured and coerced, the prosecution maintained the statements were freely made. After hearing witnesses from both sides, Justice Nwite ruled that the prosecution had proved the statements were not obtained under duress and admitted them as exhibits. The matter was adjourned to January 22, 2026, for substantive hearing.
