By Paul Ohia with agency report, 06.23.2010

The judge overseeing federal charges against Christmas Day bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has rejected a request by the Nigerian government to have a formal presence in the case.

Detroit attorney Kayode Oladele, according to agency report, said in the motion filed yesterday, the Nigerian government wants to formally observe all proceedings and receive copies of all court filings "to ensure that the integrity of Nigeria is well protected."
US District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds denied the motion in an order issued after a brief hearing where she met with government prosecutors and lawyers appointed to represent Abdulmutallab. The judge called the request "moot" because records of the case already are open to the public, and Oladele later asked to withdraw the motion.

The request wasn't mentioned during the hearing where Abdulmutallab's court-appointed lawyers told the judge more time was needed to examine voluminous evidence against Abdulmutallab. No trial date was set, but the judge and lawyers agreed to meet again on Sept. 13 for another conference on the status of the case. Edmunds said she expects to set a trial date then.
A representative of the Nigerian government who attended the hearing yesterday never spoke in the court and declined to talk with a news reporter after the hearing.
Abdulmutallab, who is being held in the federal penitentiary in Milan, didn't attend the hearing.
Oladele had written in his court filing: "The government of Nigeria has a zero tolerance for terrorism and the government is committed to all the United Nations resolutions in the fight against terrorism. However, this case is a public interest case that involves unusually extensive and complex legal issues and , it is therefore in the overriding public interest that the government of Nigeria be permitted to enter an appearance to formally observe the proceedings for the purpose of ensuring that the defendant who is a citizen of Nigeria is accorded fair trial thereby protecting his rights to due process."

Attorneys representing Nigeria have attended earlier court hearings, but until now, have not attempted to participate.
"This matter comes before the Court on a nonparty motion seeking leave to enter an appearance to observe pretrial and trial proceedings," Edmunds wrote in her ruling. "The motion is DENIED as moot because: (1) the docketed pretrial and trial court proceedings in this matter are open proceedings; (2) the docket is a matter of public record and can be accessed by the public; and (3) the nonparty submitted a proposed order which requested to withdraw its motion."

The husband of Shama Chopra, a Canadian passenger on the flight Adbulmutallab is alleged to have tried to blow up, issued a statement questioning the motives behind the request by Nigeria's government. Raman Chopra of Toronto said he hopes the request was about the government wanting to "make a statement about their stand on the plight and the horrible experiences of the intended victims and what is Nigeria willing to do for them.

"Indeed the Nigerian government does not want to be seen as coming to the Defense of this alleged terrorist who tried to murder 289 people in a cold blood," Raman Chopra wrote. "If we feel that this action is some sort of judicial adventurism to hinder or delay the trial then we will ask the US government and Canada to put Nigeria back on the list of "countries of interest" along with the other countries until this trial is completed. We would strongly advise the lawyers for the Nigerian government to handle this issue of the trial and justice for the victims with great care. There is ONE defendant and there are 288 intended victims."

If we feel that this action is some sort of judicial adventurism to hinder or delay the trial then we will ask the US government and Canada to put Nigeria back on the list of "countries of interest" along with the other countries until this trial is completed. We would strongly advise the lawyers for the Nigerian government to handle this issue of the trial and justice for the victims with great care. There is ONE defendant and there are 288 intended victims."

Ouch, damn! So much for respect. Ahaha, now these looters knows their worth. A common proceeding, dem get denied.

FL Gators:

Ouch, damn! So much for respect. Ahaha, now these looters knows their worth. A common proceeding, dem get denied.

That request should never have been made, it was probably made for public posturing. if the trial proceedings are completely open to the public, what are they requesting for?
Abeg, let them save the money they are spending on this lawyer and use the dough to organize a reality show 'Nigeria's Next Soccer Striker' make we get person who fit score goal.

Yes, i'm still bitter over last night.

texazzpete:

That request should never have been made, it was probably made for public posturing. if the trial proceedings are completely open to the public, what are they requesting for?
Abeg, let them save the money they are spending on this lawyer and use the dough to organize a reality show 'Nigeria's Next Soccer Striker' make we get person who fit score goal.

Yes, i'm still bitter over last night.

Why not? Abdul is a nigerian citizen and since this will/had affected the status of Nigeria in the terrorist list, then then the request should be granted.

There was a case like this a while ago. An American citizen was accused of murder in Mexico. And trust for America to fight for the rights of its citizens. They were allowed in the proceedings and even after the american citizen was found guilty. . . . they still found a way to turn the decision around.

Not supporting their request tho, but I still think they have the right to make that request since it's a foreign problem between this two countries.

Ha, dont worry. 2014 is almost here.