DSS Arraigns Abiri, Detained Journalist, For Attempt Bombing Oil Pipeline

MICHAEL AKINOLA

Jones Abiri, a Bayelsa State-based journalist, on Thursday arraigned by the Department of State Security, DSS, before the Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja for allegedly bombing oil pipelines in the Niger Delta area.

Abiri has been in the DSS custody since July 2016 when he was picked up by its agents on the allegation that he is the leader of Joint Revolutionary Council of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, a separatist group.

Abiri, the publisher of the Weekly Source, a community newspaper based in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was accused of bombing some oil pipelines, planning attacks on Abuja, and sending threat to international oil companies while also demanding money from them.

He was arraigned on one-count charge of criminal intimidation alongside Collins Trueman Opumei, a Special Assistant to the Governor of Bayelsa State.

After months of pressure on Federal Government and the DSS to either release or charge Abiri to court, the man was finally arraigned and was granted bail in the sum of N2 million.

The suspect was asked to produce two civil servants resident in Abuja to stand as his sureties.

The Sureties, according to the court, are not to be less than Grade Level 15 officials and must deposit their original Letters of Appointment with the court.

Marshal Abubakar, counsel to Abiri, informed the court of their application to vary the bail condition.

The Defence counsel argued that his client should be granted bail on self-recongnisance because he is a journalist.

“We now informed the court that our parties in this suit cannot meet the bail conditions. There is an application to vary the conditions,” he said.

“We said the first defendant Mr Jones Abiri is a journalist who has practised his journalism in Bayelsa state. So the court now adjourned for the hearing of our application to allow Mr Jones Abiri go on self-recongnisance.”

Mr. Chukwuemeka Nweke, the presiding magistrate, then fixed August 8 to hear the vary of bail application.

He also fixed August 16 for the commencement of Abiri’s trial.

Speaking in court, Abiri said he knows nothing about the alleged crime for which he has lost his freedom for two years running.

He also denied threatening and demanding money from oil companies.

“The alleged offence was that I sent a threat message to Nigerian Agip Oil Company and Shell, demanding the sum of N250 million from them… I don’t know of this,” he said.

“As a journalist and publisher of Weekly Source Newspaper, a regional newspaper in Niger Delta, people come to my office to anchor press release for them… Since 21st July 2016 I have been in DSS detention for an alleged offence. It’s been a pathetic situation for me to have been facing this persecution.

“I know very well that by the divine mercy of the Almighty God, I believe and I’m so resilient that I will come out successfully from this case.”

Abiri has since been moved out of the DSS detention facility to the Nigerian Prison in Keffi, Nasawara State pending the determination of his bail by the court.