Posted by By Ibe Uwaleke on
The ballistic surface-to-air stringer missile that was to be used in blowing up a plane with President Olusegun Obasanjo by some aides of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha was imported from the United States of America.
The ballistic surface-to-air stringer missile that was to be used in blowing up a plane with President Olusegun Obasanjo by some aides of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha was imported from the United States of America.
This was disclosed yesterday by a prosecution witness, Col. Adekunle Abdullahi Martins, at a Federal High Court, Lagos, where the trial of Al-Mustapha and the other suspects is being held.
Al-Mustapha, the Chief Security Officer to the late Military ruler-Gen. Sani Abacha, is alleged to be the mastermind of the alleged failed coup plot.
Col. Martins, of the Nigerian Army Ordinance Headquarters, Lagos, told the court that the missile was manufactured in the U.S.
The alleged plot was said to have been hatched between November 2002 and March 2004.
Those named in the alleged coup plot include Al-Mustapha, Lt. Col. Mohammed Ibn Umar Adeka and a civilian, Mr. Onwuchekwa Okorie.
Commander Yakubu Kudambo whose name appeared on the charge is still at large.
Al-Mustapha, according to the charge sheet, is regarded as the chief planner and ring leader of the alleged plot.
All the accused persons have been in detention at the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), Lagos, since October last year following an order of court by Justice Dan Abutu before whom they were arraigned.
Adeka and Okorie had applied for bail, but Justice Abutu on June 3, this year refused their request, noting that the allegation is of a capital nature.
At yesterday's proceedings, Al-Mustapha's counsel, Olalekan Ojo cross examined.
Martins is the director of arms and ammunition at the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Ordinance. He gave his evidence-in-chief two weeks ago when he was taken by the lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The cross examination yesterday went thus:
Which Corps do you belong to?
24 Regular Corps
You have known the first defendant (Al-Mustapha)?
Yes
Did he at any time attend any course?
No
The first defendant (Al-Mustapha) belongs to intelligence corps of the Army?
That is correct
What is the nature of the officers in the intelligence corps?
I don't belong there. How will I know the nature of their training?
You are colonel and a director of ammunitions?
That is a fact.
You have heard of the coup involving the first defendant (Al-Mustapha)
I read about it in the pages of newspapers.
You also read about the sittings of the special/investigation panel (SIP) from the newspapers?
No sir
Did you ever appear before any sittings of the SIP?
No
You were called upon to come and give evidence when this mater came to court
No
Do you know the accused persons were arraigned in October last year?
No
When were you summoned to give evidence in this case?
May be, May 2005
Did you have anything to do with SIP?
No
Were you ever invited by SIP?
I did not meet any panel
Did any member of the panel have anything to do with you?
I don't know any member of the panel or the panel itself
You made a statement in this matter Where did you make the statement?
At the prosecuting team's office in Lagos
Do you know the address of the prosecution office?
I can't remember
Was there any other person present at the office?
Only the prosecuting team
Any military officer present?
There is no military officer in the prosecuting team.
No police officer too?
I didn't meet any police officer
When did you make the statement?
Sometime in the first week of June, 2005
Was it the prosecuting team that gave you paper for your statement?
Yes
Do you know the nature of ammunition in your control?
The issue of ammunition is a secret one. Divulging the information is to act against the official Secrets Act (OSA)
Where did you sight the surface-to-air stringer missile?
I sighted them while I was on a course outside Nigeria.
Have you fired any missile before?
No
Is it the Artillery Corps that is trained to handle missiles?
It depends on how applicable. Every sections can fire missile
Which section is trained to fire surface-to-air stringer missile?
It is fired by Infantry men, Armoured men or Artillery men.
That means that some people are trained to fire the missile?
Yes, that is the sub-sections
Is the first defendant (Al-Mustapha) trained in firing missile?
I wouldn't know
A blow-pipe missile is not the same as surface-to-air stringer missile?
Yes
Since when have you known Al-Mustapha?
Since 1980
Do you know that Al-Mustapha has been in detention since 1998?
I wouldn't know
Does he occupy a command position in the Nigerian Army?
He has not commanded a brigade
Have you released any missile to any person before?
I can't comment on that
Which country manufactured the surface-to-air stringer missile?
It is from America
It is a controlled item?
All items classified secret are controlled items
What is the cost of such missile?
I don't buy, so I don't know.
Do you know the duration it takes to train somebody in the use of missile?
A few hours of familiarisation with the ammunition. In fact a common armed robber on the street can fire a missile
Does the missile have the shape of a square?
The ballistic missile is syllindirical in nature
Any investigation panel will have a proceeding and come out with a report?
That is correct
When were you appointed director of arms and ammunition?
In 2004
Have you seen the charge sheet in this matter?
No
Have you heard of any name called Commander Yakubu Kudambo or Lt. Tijani J. Abdalla?
No
Do you know Lt Col Mohammed Umar Adeka?
Yes
You have heard of the word "pass"?
Yes
What is a 'pass'?
A pass is a permit to allow an officer to go out beyond a particular radius
What radius will require a pass?
If you want to leave your office for a town, you will take a town pass.
What type of pass do you require when you want to leave the country?
That one will require approval from the Chief of Army Staff.
When can a pass indicate a route?
It depends on the type of movement or the material involved.
A pass is duplicated into four copies?
It is the Nigerian Army Personnel Movement Data Form that is in four parts. The pass is one copy
Every movement covered by a pass is controlled?
Every movement covered by a pass is legal.
Can you influence the issuance of a pass?
I cannot influence the issuance of a pass. The issuance of a pass is the pre-rogative of the commander-in-charge or any other officer so delegated.
When an officer travels without a pass, what is the repercussion?
Appropriate sanctions are applied based on the Armed Forces Decree 105 of 1995 as amended.
Do you set up committee to discipline such an officer?
If he is on AWOL, a panel might be set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding his absence
There will be a report of the panel after all?
Yes as expected, but the report will be retained by the particular unit
Where a disciplinary action is recommended by the panel, where will the report be kept?
At the unit.
Further cross-examination by counsel will continue on Friday June 24, this year.