By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—FORMER Provost of the Nigerian Army, Brig-General Idada Ikponmwen, on Mondaay, faulted the trial of Abuja bomb blast suspects in secrecy by the State Security Services, SSS, and warned that the trial was capable of denting the image of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan when it seemed undemocratic.

Idada, who was the chief prosecutor in the trial of the five admirals over the Missing African ship in 2004, queried why the SSS preferred the secret trial when all Nigerians, who were disturbed over the bomb blast which unfortunately occurred on the occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the nation’s Independence, asserted that the trial so far was a charade, adding that the Federal government was ill advised on the issue.

According to him, “even during the coup trials, people still objected so strongly to having trials in cameras; trials in camera are not a public demonstration of due process or justice. Trial is a public demonstration of dispensation of justice so when you go and do it in secrets, it’s a departure from the rule of law.

“It’s only when there are serious secrets and I don’t know what secrets we have with bomb blasts which threatened our 50th anniversary celebration of our independence.

“I think government must be concious that this topic is of great public interest. Even the trial of the popular missing ship in 2004 was done in full public view, with the media and the public in full attendance, so that the public will know.

This issue of bomb blasts has attracted so much public discourse, public interest naturally to warrant Nigerians following the trials and knowing exactly what happened.”

It is inconceivable that the trial should be done in secrets, inconceivable.” Idada asserted.

Idada added that “ I don’t even think that the SSS is an organ set up to do prosecution of cases.SSS like any other intelligence organization is supposed to work under ground cover and by the time they gather sufficient information and translate it to intelligence they pass it to the appropriate arm of government that is responsible for prosecution.

Prosecution should be done by the police or ministry of justice.
“It compromises the position of the SSS and indeed any intelligence organization for that matter to be seen to be neck deep in criminal matter and even going to the extent of being involved in prosecution.

I think the whole thing is wrong, government must be properly advised, to give the appropriate agencies to do their jobs. And this is democracy the Federal Government must not be seen to be involved in such trial in order not to dent the image of the Federal Government” he warned.