Boko Haram: Ndume knows fate June 15

Posted by Mgbenka at Friday, April 27, 2012 |

ABUJA — Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, fixed June 15, to determine the merit of an application seeking to quash the four-count terrorism charge preferred against Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume by the Federal Government.

Ndume who is representing Borno South Senatorial District was specifically accused of furnishing the Boko Haram Islamic sect with classified information that aided their terror operations in the country.
He was arrested by the State Security Service, SSS, on November 21, 2011 and docked before the high court on December 12, sequel to his indictment by a self confessed Spokesman of the sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga, who fingered him as one of their major sponsors.

The Ministry of Justice which is prosecuting the matter said the offence was contrary to section 7(1) (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 7(1) of the same Act.
Arguing through his counsel, Chief Ricky Tarfa, SAN, yesterday, Ndume, contended that the Federal Government woefully failed to establish a prima-facie case capable of warranting his prosecution, adding that the sum total of evidence upon which his trial was predicated, amounted to hearsay.
While accusing the Federal Government of abusing the judicial process by dragging him to court without first securing a convincing proof of evidence capable of sustaining the case, Ndume, however, admitted having telephone exchanges with some persons that claimed to be members of Jammatul Sunnah Walid Jihad, a.k.a Boko Haram.

FG opposes application
Meanwhile, the Federal Government, yesterday, opposed the application, saying it was convinced that the accused person has a criminal case to answer.
In a counter affidavit the government argued through a Deputy Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Fatunde, it urged the court to dismiss the application for quash and allow the accused person to prove his innocence during trial.
Fatunde told the court to use its discretion to decide if there was probably a link between the accused person and the Boko Haram sect since investigation had been established that the accused knew Kondunga.
After listening from both parties, Justice Kolawale adjourned the case till June 15 for ruling.