Court Refuses To Reopen Lebanese Amigo Supermarket

A Federal High Court in Abuja Monday, refused to hear an application seeking the reopening of two companies allegedly used to commit terrorism-related offences.

The companies: Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park Resort were sealed up by the federal government after the discovery of large cache of arms in a Kano house, which allegedly belonged to a co-owner of the companies.

The companies were charged with their Lebanese owners, who are standing trial for terrorism-related  charges and in connection with the discovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition in a house in Kano.

They were also charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation, Hezbollah.

The Lebanese are - Mustapha Fawaz (49), Abdallah Thahini (48) and Talal Ahmad Roda (51). 

Trial ended in the case Monday, with the defence closing its case, after calling four witnesses, including a Lebanon-based lawyer, Youssef Finianos, who was invited to explain the status of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Fawaz and Thahini, while testifying Monday, denied involvement in any terrorism activities.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola turned down the request by defence lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), asking to consider an application seeking the reopening of the two companies sealed by security operatives shortly after the Lebanese were arrested in May this year.

Raji had complained that the continued closure of the companies was at a huge loss to the owners, because some of the equipment and goods were beginning to go bad from not being put to use.

The prosecutor, Mr. Simon Egede, had indicated his readiness to file a counter application in opposition to the defence's application to reopen the companies.

At a point, parties, however, agreed to a middle-ground position which requires that representatives of the companies and officials of the Department of State Service (DSS) jointly inspect facilities in the companies twice a week - Tuesday and Thursday, an arrangement the judge adopted.

The judge also directed that the companies make available to the DSS the names of its staff to participate in the inspection and the time of the inspection a day before such inspection.

Testifying earlier, Finianos denied that Hezbollah was a terrorist organisation in his country.

He admitted that the European Union recently declared Hezbollah a terrorist organisation, but said, to every Lebanese, the group was a resistant movement, with the primary responsibility of preventing the occupation of Southern Lebanon by Israel.

Finianos, who testified as the second defence witness, said Hezbollah was not declared a terrorist group in his country.

He admitted that there were unproven cases in the past where allegation of violent crimes had been made against Hezbollah.

In their testimonies, Fawaz and Thahini denied being members of Hezbollah.

They alleged that they were interrogated at the DSS' office by some foreigners, who they claimed were members of Israeli's MOSSAD.

Although Fawaz admitted undergoing 30 days training under Hezbollah on weapon usage, Thahini on his part, denied any of such training.

Fawaz, who was the third defence witness, admitted making video recording of the aerial view of Abuja from atop Sheraton Hotel.

He denied knowledge that one Issah, had asked him to make the recording.

Fawaz denied plotting to hurt any of Nigeria's interests.
He said having invested billions of naira in the country, he had no reason to plan any harm against the country.

He admitted knowing Abdul-Hassan Tahil, the owner of the Kano house, where the huge arms were recovered.
Fawaz, said although Tahil was his in-law, they were not business partners, admitted knowing Thahini and Roda.

Thahini, who testified as the fourth defence witness said he was arrested at the Aminu Kano Airport, Kano while planning to travel outside the country for business purpose.

He said the $61,170 found on him at the airport was meant to buy some machines for his business.

When asked whether he trained on weapon usage, Thahini said he did not train under Hezbollah, but that the use of weapons like AK47 and related guns was not unusual in their part of the world.

At the closing of the defence's case, parties agreed to return on September 30 for the adoption of their final written addresses.