An Islamic scholar accused of being al-Qaeda’s link to Nigeria has appeared in court in the capital, Abuja.
Muhammed Ashafa from the northern city of Kano, claims he was tortured into confessing to a planned attack on American interests in the country.
But two agents from the State Security Services told the court on Wednesday he had signed a statement voluntarily.
He was arrested in Pakistan in 2004. Security services there deported him back to Nigeria over a year ago.
He has been in the custody of the Nigerian security services since then.
“Reasonable suspicion”
Prosecutors for the government say the Pakistani security services arrested him “on reasonable suspicion”. They say he associated with two known al-Qaeda operatives and received money to execute attacks in Nigeria.
“If they had reasonable suspicion why didn’t they charge him in Pakistan? Where are the facts? Suspicion, no matter how great does not mean it is automatically a conviction,” his lawyer Mary Obegolu said outside the court.
Mr Ashafa will give evidence of how he was tortured at his next court appearance in February, she said.
The prosecution said they will oppose any bail applications.
Last November, five men were arrested and charged with terrorism offences. They were accused of going to a terrorist training camp in Algeria.
But later that month during a visit to the US, Nigeria’s Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa said there was no known terrorist activity in the country.