Nigeria's terror suspect Abdulmutallab back in court

Abdulmutallab Umar Farouk, accused bomber

Nigeria's terror suspect Abdulmutallab back in court

The trial of Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, accused of attempting to detonate plastic explosives aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253, en route to Detroit, USA, from Amsterdam on Friday December 26, 2009, reopened on Monday in the United States of America.

The action of the Underwear Bomber, as he was consequently dubbed because the explosives were carefully concealed in his underwear, is arguably al-Qaeda’s biggest failed terrorist attack.

The resumed trial is expected to generate keen global followership, coming three days after the Yemen airstrike murder of al-Qaeda strongman, Anwar al-Awlaki, whom American intelligence officials have repeatedly linked with Mutallab’s suicide mission.

“Standby counsel”

The trial is equally expected to be melodramatic, after the 24-year-old sacked his attorneys, insisting on self-representation.

However, Judge Nancy Edmunds, who has continually urged him to allow a lawyer argue his case, has appointed a “standby counsel” to help him prepare.

Although Abdulmutallab accepted some help, he has insisted on making his own opening statement and on questioning witnesses.

“This is the American legal system on display for the world. That’s important”, said Peter Henning, a law professor at Wayne State University and former federal prosecutor.                                                                                              
“The judge has to ensure this trial is conducted fairly without letting it dissolve into a circus... That’s difficult to do because Mr. Abdulmutallab has his own agenda.” He added.

Disruptive and unruly

Abdulmutallab was calm and respectful for most parts of his pre-trial hearings, but he became disruptive and unruly as it moved closer to trial.

The Christmas Day attack was thwarted when explosives glued to Abdulmutallab’s underwear failed to detonate and only caused a small fire, prompting passengers and crew members to overpower him, but it sparked a global alarm and compelled the US to adopt stringent screening and security measures at airports.

 Islamic fundamentalist tendencies

The reputation of the US intelligence services also received public swipes following revelations that father of the alleged bomber, a former Chairman of First Bank Nigeria PLC, earlier warned the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of his son’s growing Islamic fundamentalist tendencies.

At a pre-trial hearing, Edmunds had dismissed Abdulmutallab’s objection to the prosecution’s request to show his martyrdom video and another one demonstrating the power of the explosives to members of the jury.

They will also be shown a reproduction of his explosives-concealing underwear and will hear testimony from some of the passengers and crewmembers on the plane.

AFP/Iheanacho/Ekata