Nigeria denies bail to Lebanese 'linked to Hezbollah'

(MENAFN- Arab News) A Nigerian court yesterday denied bail to three Lebanese nationals charged with terrorism over their alleged links to the powerful Hezbollah group. A high court judge refused bail for three Lebanese-Nigerian men accused of hoarding an arms cache in Nigeria's troubled north for the Lebanese political party and militant movement Hezbollah. Mustapha Fawaz, 49, Abdallah Thahini, 48, and Talal Ahmad Roda, 51, were charged last month after a massive supply of weapons was found at a business in the capital Abuja and a private home in the northern city of Kano. A fourth suspect is said to be on the run. "There is the likelihood ... that the first, second and third accused persons may not appear for trial," said High Court Justice Adeniyi Ademola Adetokunbo. The request "for the accused persons to be admitted to bail is hereby refused." The security services have claimed that the weapons discovered at the two premises were intended to attack Israeli and Western targets in Nigeria. Prosecutors have said the group was actively preparing to commit "a terrorist act." The judge also denied a request to re-open the businesses operated by the accused, which include a supermarket and an amusement park in the capital. The Lebanese suspects, who are said to also hold Nigerian citizenship, have pleaded not guilty to all six counts of the terrorism-related offences. According to court documents, the trio has admitted to being members of Hezbollah. Belonging to the group is not a crime under Nigerian law. Nigeria is grappling with a deadly insurgency waged by Boko Haram, but there has been no suggestion of any ties between the Lebanese accused and the Nigerian extremist group. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is home to a sizeable Lebanese population, including in the mainly Muslim north. Judge Adeniyi Ademola Adetokunbo said yesterday the men and quantity of arms discovered "pose national security challenges." Northeast Nigeria is under a state of emergency to halt an uprising by extremists. Soldiers in May recovered rocket-propelled grenades, land mines, hand grenades and assault rifle magazines in a bunker under a bedroom in the northern city of Kano. The judge at Abuja Federal High Court said the three likely would flee rather than stand trial on charges carrying a sentence of life imprisonment. The judge sealed off the men's businesses for investigation. A trial is set for July 29.