Court grants DSS permission to detain Nigerian ‘linked to ISIS’

A federal high court in Abuja has granted permission to the Department of State Services (DSS) to detain one Emmanuel Osase, a Nigerian, alleged to be a member of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

On Wednesday, Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, said the DSS should keep the suspect in its custody for 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation of the alleged offence.

The detention order followed an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/409/2024 filed by the DSS through its lawyers led by A. A. Ugee.

The motion was brought according to section 66(1) of the Terrorism (prevention and prohibition) Act 2022.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter till June 3.

The court processes showed that Osase was arrested on March 11 by security operatives for supporting ISIS by propagating its messages and opposing the democratic system of government in Nigeria.

The suspect was also alleged to have called for terrorist attacks on Nigeria.

The DSS also disclosed that the suspect was previously jailed in France for five years over terrorism-related offences, adding that he was later deported to Nigeria after serving his jail term.

Despite the conviction in France, the service said Osase continued to indulge in acts of terrorism by engaging with a proscribed pro-ISIS online media group known as “al-Alawn Media Foundation”.

“That the respondent appeared not to have renounced his terrorist ideologies, as he continues to engage with the proscribed pro-ISIS online media group known as “al-Alawn Media Foundation,” whose main objectives is the creation and dissemination of terrorist content and the promotion of terrorist attacks against democratic systems of government such as Nigeria and the western governments including their interests across the globe,” the affidavit reads.

“That the respondent who was born in the Federal Capital Territory left Nigeria for France and never returned to Nigeria until his deportation after completion of a five-year jail term in France for acts of terrorism and attempt to join the Islamic State (IS) linked terrorist group, Friqat Al-Ghuraba (Group of Foreigners) in Syria.

“The respondent, at the point of arrest, formatted his mobile device to factory settings upon sighting security agents ostensibly to wipe out any suspicious contents on the device and cover up his nefarious activities.

“That the activities of the respondent constitute a potent threat to national security and corporate existence of Nigeria.

“That the release of the respondent at this time would jeopardise the investigation, as the investigation has assumed a wider dimension.

“That there is a need for a thorough investigation of the suspect to ensure that he does not pose any security threat to Nigeria or the world at large.

“That the respondent is helping with vital information that will lead to the arrest of other members who are still at large.”