A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has admitted as evidence 200 pieces of improvised explosive device (IED) found on six persons alleged to be members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect who are standing trial for bombings in Suleja, Niger State, two years ago.
But the court refused to take custody of the explosives and bundles of connector wires, instead ordering the State Security Service (SSS) to take them away for safe keeping.
The ongoing trial of the six Boko Haram suspects who were docked on 30th September 2011 has been characterised by heavy security presence.
On Thursday, the number of the combined team of SSS operatives and policemen deployed to man the court proceedings tripled, the men mounting strategic positions within and outside the court premises.
The increase in security presence may not be unconnected with the 200 IEDs packed in an airtight bag and brought before the court as exhibits against the suspects.
The explosives were allegedly retrieved from the suspects in July 2011 in Kaduna State.
According to the testimony of Michael Adebayo, an SSS radioactive expert, the explosives are easily triggered by constant contact. He, therefore, refused to bring them out in the open court for further analysis.
He told the court that once the explosives are connected to cordex cables, which were also tendered as exhibits, a five-storied building can be razed with an impact exceeding 7,000 metres.
Earlier, two other prosecution witnesses confirmed that they recovered the items after three of the accused persons were arrested in Kaduna State, adding that other items recovered include four handsets and a black Honda civic.
Though the prosecutor brushed aside efforts to have him speak on the proceedings, the two defense counsels were on hand to pick poles in the evidences before the court.
Trial in the matter was to 9th January 2013 for cross examination.
