Boko Haram: FG begins trial of Senator Ndume

Posted by admin Boko Haram, Latest Politics Wednesday, July 4th, 2012

EIGHT months after his indictment for allegedly sponsoring the activities of the Boko Haram sect, the Federal Government, on Tuesday formally began the trial of Senator Mohammed Aliyu Ndume on terrorism charges before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

At the resumed hearing of the suit on Tuesday, the Federal Government called the Prosecution Witness 1, an operative of the State Security Service (SSS), Abdulkareem Farouk Dauda, who told the court that he did not investigate the statement of Ndume, who is standing trial for allegedly having connection with the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

The witness stated that because he did not investigate the accused’s statements he was not in a position to authenticate the truth of the statements.

Answering questions under cross examination by the defence counsel, Rickey Tarfa SAN, the witness told the court that he was not mandated by his office to investigate the accused’s statements.

The SSS operative, who recorded the four different statements made by the accused, stood his ground that no officer had the audacity to carry out such an investigation unless the officer was detailed to do so by the higher authority.

The accused, who made four statements in two days to SSS upon implication by one Ali Konduga, the ex-Boko Haram spokesman now jailed, had in his statements claimed that the office of the vice-president was informed on the activities of the suspected terrorists.

The prosecution witness further insisted that Senator Ndume was invited to the SSS headquarters, having been implicated by Konduga as one of the major sponsors of the sect.

The witness further told the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, that Senator Ndume’s name was mentioned by the jailed Boko Haram spokesman in his presence along with one other person said to have died.

He said that on November 21, 2011, when the accused appeared at the SSS headquarters, he made three different statements while the fourth was made four days later.

Led in evidence by the Federal Government’s counsel, Mr I I Ideba, the witness also informed the court that a search warrant was executed at the Apo Legislative Quarters residence of the senator but did not disclose whether incriminating materials were found.

The Federal Government had put Ndume on trial for allegedly sponsoring Boko Haram’s activities and supplying them with identities of dignitaries to be attacked.

The court later adjourned till July 10 for commencement of trial.

-Tribunewp_posts