Hezbollah: Court rejects application to reopen sealed companies

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday refused to hear an application seeking to reopen two companies sealed by the Federal Government on the grounds that they were used by the owners for terrorism activities. The companies – Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park Resort – are charged with their Lebanese owners, who are standing trial for terrorism related charges and in connection with the last discovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition in a house in Kano. They are also charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation, Hezbollah. The Labenese are Mustapha Fawaz (49), Abdallah Thahini (48) and Talal Ahmad Roda (51). Trial ended in the case on 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. Parties will return on September 30 for the adoption of their final written addresses. Fawaz and Thahini, while testifying, denied involvement in any terrorism activities. The court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, turned down request by defence lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), that he 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 equipments and goods were beginning to go bad from not being put to use. Upon indication by lead prosecution lawyer, Simon Egede that he would file a counter application in opposition to the defence’s application, he expressed his preference for the continuation of the trial as against considering any interlocutory application. The parties however agreed to a middle ground position which requires that representatives of the companies and officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) jointly inspect facilities in the companies twice a week Tuesday and Thursday, an arrangement the judge adopted.]]>