The Federal High Court in Abuja has approved the request of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to detain an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and 19 others for 30 days over their alleged involvement in banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism activities.

An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), A. A. Babangida, was ordered to be detained along with other suspects for 30 days to enable DIA operatives to carry out a thorough investigation into their alleged involvement in the heinous crimes.

ASP Babangida, who was arrested in June and has since been in DIA custody, was alleged to have been helping Boko Haram, bandits, and ISWAP members carry out terrorism activities in some parts of the country.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the detention order on Wednesday while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the DIA.

Counsel to the security agency, S.A. Aminu, while arguing the ex-parte application, requested permission from the court to detain the suspects for 90 days.

The lawyer claimed that the involvement of the suspects in terrorism activities was so complex because the bomb experts for the gang had just been apprehended based on information volunteered by the detainees.

She explained that the DIA intends to carry out a critical investigation into the unlawful activities of Babangida and others before handing them over to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for prosecution.

The ex-parte application of the DIA was supported by a 21-paragraph affidavit which chronicled how the agency obtained hints that led to the arrest of the suspects in various locations and at different times.

After scrutinising the documentary exhibits placed before the court, Justice Lifu ordered the agency to detain the suspects until the conclusion of the investigation.

The judge declined to grant the 90 days requested by the DIA on the grounds that the suspects have been in custody for three months and the fact that the Constitution presumes them innocent until otherwise established against them.

Justice Lifu also ordered that the DIA should do everything within its powers and within the ambit of the law to complete its investigation into the allegations against the suspects so as not to run afoul of the law.

Others ordered to be detained along with Police ASP Babangida are Usman Idris, Abu Safiyanu, Alhassan Idris, Sahada Ishaka, Abubakar Ibrahim Sani Bello, Yahaya Abdullahi, Haruna Salisu, and Mohammed Muazu.

The rest are Nura Idris, Alhaji Manu Mohammed, Umar Mohammed Lamu, Abubakar Mandara, Suleiman Musa Mohammed, Alhaji Madayi, Alhaji Amodu Bukar, Prince Oghewe, and Uzoma Aghaoyibo.

The ex-parte application is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1146/2024.