Terrorism: Senator Ndume Knows Fate In June

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday adjourned till 15 June to decide whether embattled Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume who is standing trial for alleged sponsorship of terrorism will continue to face trial or not.

Ndume was docked over his alleged link with the terrorist group Jamaatu Ahlil Sunna Lidawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram.

Ndume had asked the court to quash the 4-count charge preferred against him by the State Security Service, SSS.

The Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District told the court that the proof of evidence filed by the prosecution does not link him with the alleged criminal charge, adding that the charge is devoid of essential ingredients to suggest the commission of the offences for which he stands charged.

He asked the court to discharge him of the said charge, adding that the court has no jurisdiction to hear and determine the charge slammed against him as the entire action constitutes an abuse of court process.

The prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Olufumilayo Fatunde, who is a Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, in a counter affidavit, argued that since Section 33(2) of the Federal High Court Act still subsists and binding as a statutes and the defence counsel has not controverted that in their application, the court should hold that the trial of the accused person must proceed summarily.

She argued that the embattled senator did not say that the proof of evidence did not establish any link between the accused person and the charges for which he is standing trial, saying that: “The language I heard him use was that the link was not sufficient and I submit that it is enough, if there is a link”.

Mrs Fatunde further submitted that there is sufficient link between the accused persons and the offences for which he was charged and urged the court to discountenance the submission of the accused person that the action was an abuse of court process.

The presiding judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, thereafter adjourned till 15 June 2012 to rule on the application and ordered that the senator should continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted him by the court.

By Nnamdi Felix / Abuja