About six years into his trial, a Federal High Court in Abuja has freed Senator Ali Ndume (All Progressives Congress, Borno State) of terrorism related charges brought against him in 2011 by the Goodluck Jonathan government.
In a ruling this afternoon, Justice Gabriel Kolawole upheld Ndume’s no-case submission and proceeded to discharge and acquit him.
The judge said the prosecution failed, through evidence led, to link the defendant (Ndume) to the offences alleged, to warrant his being called to enter defence.
Justice Kolawole noted that although Ndume admitted volunteering information to the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police and other security agencies, no representatives of any of the agencies were called as witness by the prosecution.
Ndume was charged with among others, withholding information about the operations of Boko Haram and having link and communicating with some of its leaders.
The defendant had, in his no-case submission, claimed to have been involved in negotiation with Boko Haram leaders at the instance of the then Federal Government led by President Jonathan.
He said former Vice President and the Director General of the DSS during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration were aware of his interactions with a Boko Haram member, Ali Konduga.
He said his link with Konduga, who has since been convicted on terrorism related charges, was at the behest of the presidential committee set up under the Jonathan government to help address security challenges in the North-East part of the country.
The Senator was arraigned on December 12, 2011 on a four-count charge relating to terrorism charges. He was accused of, among other counts, sponsoring the Boko Haram sect, maintaining a link with the sect member and failing to disclose the phone number of Konduga, which was alleged to be in his (Ndume’s) possession.
The prosecution commenced trial on July 3, 2012 and closed its case on June 22, 2016, after calling nine witnesses, following which Ndume opted for a no-case submission.
Ndume’s lawyer, Rickey Tarfa (SAN) had, while adopting his no-case submission on June 6 this year, urged the court to discharge and acquit his client on the ground that the prosecution was unable to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.
Tarfa said the prosecution was unable to lead sufficient evidence link his client with the offences alleged.
He said Ndume’s contact with Boko Haram came about when the senator was a member of the Presidential Committee on Security Matters in the North-East of the country.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Ndume dressed in white robe (agbada and white cap) thank God for spearing his life to witness his acquittal.
“I thank God for spearing my life. Many Senators, who have cases against them have died, but here I am and well. I am grateful to God,” he said.
(The Nation)
