Suspected underwear-bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was arraigned before a U.S Magistrate Mark Randon, Eastern District, of Detroit today in a brief legal proceeding that lasted only three minutes. As earlier reported by Saharareporters, his parents did not come to the hearing as planned; they are still in Nigeria. A composed, well-groomed, pint-sized Umar Farouk walked into the courtroom limping in statutory leg chains. He looked around, perhaps for his family and other familiar faces, but none was around.
Two Nigerian lawyers, led by Maryam Uwais, the wife of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais, came to observe the proceedings. The other lawyer was Mahmud Kazuare from Maryland. They were accompanied by diplomatic officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC. The court reserved a front row for the observer lawyers and diplomats.
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The courtroom was packed with accredited officials, lawyers and the media. Security was tight inside and outside of the courtroom.
A mild drama ensued when American journalists mistook Mrs. Uwais for Umar Farouk’s mother. She had to be whisked out of the court premises by Homeland Security officials, who took her to an unknown destination.
Members of Nigerians In Diaspora Organization (NIDO) waited in vain outside to have a word with Mrs. Uwais in what appears to be the full support from the Nigerian government. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), which rarely ventures abroad, was in town to cover the proceedings.
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Umar Farouk’s lawyers from the Public Defender’s office guided him in taking a no-guilty plea. Farouk spoke in measured low tones, spelling out his names and explaining that he understood the charges and that his lawyers had told him he would be remanded in prison custody until the next court date.
He pleaded “Not Guilty?” asked a Nigerian observer outside the courthouse in surprise, “I thought he would seize the last chance of personal dignity by pleading guilty and suggesting that he be executed publicly.”
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