ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency said it was holding Agene Ogwuche, a retired Army colonel, because he failed to produce his son after securing his release on bail.
Officials stressed that the elder Ogwuche was not being detained as a suspect in the bombing of a bus station in Nyanya, near Abuja.
His son, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, had been declared wanted in connection with the attack.
Marilyn Ogar, a spokeswoman for the Department of State Services, confirmed the detention during a security briefing on Thursday, May 15, 2014.
She said Agene Ogwuche had stood surety for his son and remained responsible for presenting him to investigators when required.
Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, said the failure to fulfil that obligation did not make the retired colonel a terrorism suspect.
Any action taken against him would be based on the conditions of the bail agreement, including any bond or property pledged as security, Mba said.
He added that the authorities would investigate the father separately if evidence emerged connecting him to an offence.
No such allegation had been established at the time of the briefing, according to officials.
Aminu Ogwuche had previously been arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on November 12, 2011, after arriving from the United Kingdom.
Authorities said he was being investigated at the time over suspected involvement in terrorism-related activities.
He was released to his father on October 15, 2012, after human rights advocates raised concerns about his continued detention.
Security officials described him as a former Nigerian Army serviceman who had deserted, identifying his service number as SVC 95/104.
Ogwuche was later arrested in Sudan with assistance from the military attaché at the Nigerian High Commission.
Mike Omeri, coordinator of the National Briefing Centre on Security and director-general of the National Orientation Agency, said Nigerian agencies had begun proceedings to return him to the country.
Omeri said the extradition could not be completed immediately because it required formal procedures between Nigeria and Sudan. He said the relevant federal agencies were working to conclude the process.
Rufai Abubakar Tsiga, another man declared wanted in connection with the April 14 attack, remained at large. Officials said a ₦25 million reward was still available for information leading to his arrest.
Reports identified Tsiga and Ogwuche as the two men sought by the security authorities.
