Hezbollah: Lebanese suspects refused bail ... Amigo, Wonderland to remain sealed

An Abuja Federal High Court on Friday refused bail to
three Lebanese accused by the Federal Government of
being terrorists.
The court, presided by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in its
ruling on a bail application filed by the suspects - the
co-owner of Amigo Supermarket, Mustapha Fawaz, and
two others, Abdallah Thahini and Talal Ahmad Roda -
held that their release could undermine Nigeria's
security.
The Lebanese are being tried by the Federal
Government on six counts of terrorism and related
offences, following their arrest in connection with the
armoury and Hezbollah terror cell in Bompai, Kano
State.
In a bid to prove that they will not run away from the
country if granted bail, they had asked the court to
allow the Lebanese ambassador or the country's head
of mission in Nigeria to stand surety for them.
Their lawyer, Robert Clarke, SAN, had also claimed that
one of the accused persons has a heart condition
which required specialist attention.
The Lebanese suspects also asked the court to reopen
Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park
Resort, which were sealed after their arrest.
The Federal Government, in the charge filed by Simon
Egede, the acting Director of Prosecutions of the
Federation, alleged that the Lebanese used their
premises at Amigo Supermarket Ltd. and Wonderland
Amusement Park Resort, both in Abuja, and No. 3, Gaya
Road, Kano, for terrorist activities.
However, ruling on the application on Friday, Justice
Ademola refused all the prayers made by the Lebanese
and instead, ordered an accelerated trial of the matter.
Two of the six counts in the charge attract a life
sentence, a factor which the judge said must be
considered in deciding the bail application.
He noted that the weight of the punishment could
tempt the accused persons to jump bail, especially as
they have dual citizenship.
The suspects had pleaded not guilty when they were
arraigned, but Justice Ademola held that the
prosecution had established a prima facie case against
them.
The judge added that the medical report presented by
the Lebanese did not disclose any information that
could be relied on to grant them bail.
Justice Ademola said, "Once the security of the state is
in jeopardy, it is difficult to grant bail. The accused
persons may jump bail.
"Having resolved the matter in favour of the
respondents, the motion on notice is hereby
dismissed."
He also upheld the prosecution's argument that the
sealed premises should not be reopened until
investigations were concluded.
The judge ordered an accelerated hearing of the matter,
and adjourned till July 29, 30 and 31, 2013, for trial.