A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja yesterday held that embattled
Senator Ali Ndume has a case to answer in the ongoing trial over
allegations of terrorism brought against him by the Federal Government.
In his ruling on the motion on notice initiated by Ndume seeking to quash the four-count charge on terrorism, Justice Gabriel Kolawole who presided over the court, contended in his submission that the motion cannot hold water based on a mere denial.
The judge further held that the prosecution affidavit, evidence and witness statement showed that the embattled senator had a link with members of the Islamic sect group, Boko Haram.
“The motion on notice brought by the accused person seeking to quash the charges against him is hereby dismissed. The accused person should face trial. I am prepared to give the matter accelerated hearing,” he said.
Ndume had in the motion filed through his counsel, Rickey Tarfa (SAN) asked the court to quash the charges against him on the ground that there is no sufficient evidence to link him with the alleged offences (relating to the Boko Haram sect).
Ndume also alleged bias, saying the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) drafted the charge in bad faith and without regard to the facts of the case.
Tarfa said the case was an abuse of court process since the charges were filed when a similar suit against him was pending before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court.
He also said his client came in contact with the sect when he was appointed as a member of the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East Zone.
However, prosecuting counsel, Olufunmilayo Fatunde, said the court cannot act on the insufficiency of evidence at this preliminary stage. On the issue of abuse of court process, Fatunde said the charges against Ndume at the Chief Magistrate’s Court were withdrawn before new ones were filed at the Federal High Court.
He noted that an investigator with the State Security Service (SSS), James Eze, in a witness deposition, said investigation revealed that Ndume had contact with the sect and also knew the sect’s former spokesperson, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga, who was sentenced to three years in jail last year.
The matter has been adjourned to July 3 and 10 for trial.
In his ruling on the motion on notice initiated by Ndume seeking to quash the four-count charge on terrorism, Justice Gabriel Kolawole who presided over the court, contended in his submission that the motion cannot hold water based on a mere denial.
The judge further held that the prosecution affidavit, evidence and witness statement showed that the embattled senator had a link with members of the Islamic sect group, Boko Haram.
“The motion on notice brought by the accused person seeking to quash the charges against him is hereby dismissed. The accused person should face trial. I am prepared to give the matter accelerated hearing,” he said.
Ndume had in the motion filed through his counsel, Rickey Tarfa (SAN) asked the court to quash the charges against him on the ground that there is no sufficient evidence to link him with the alleged offences (relating to the Boko Haram sect).
Ndume also alleged bias, saying the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) drafted the charge in bad faith and without regard to the facts of the case.
Tarfa said the case was an abuse of court process since the charges were filed when a similar suit against him was pending before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court.
He also said his client came in contact with the sect when he was appointed as a member of the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East Zone.
However, prosecuting counsel, Olufunmilayo Fatunde, said the court cannot act on the insufficiency of evidence at this preliminary stage. On the issue of abuse of court process, Fatunde said the charges against Ndume at the Chief Magistrate’s Court were withdrawn before new ones were filed at the Federal High Court.
He noted that an investigator with the State Security Service (SSS), James Eze, in a witness deposition, said investigation revealed that Ndume had contact with the sect and also knew the sect’s former spokesperson, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga, who was sentenced to three years in jail last year.
The matter has been adjourned to July 3 and 10 for trial.
Why is he still free? He should be in jail for even getting involved with BOKO HARAM in the first place. Paul South West.
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