SSS Arraigns Boko Haram Senator

The Nigerian Senator from Borno State accused of being the sponsor of Boko Haram insurgency was charged today in Abuja, according to sources close to the State Security Services.

The security officials were about taking Senator Ali Ndume to court as at the time of going to bed.

One Ali Sanda Konduga, an alleged “spokesman” of the Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram who was paraded by Nigeria Department of State Security Services on Monday named the senator and two other some prominent politicians in Borno State as the sponsors of the militant group, that had claimed responsibility to a wave of bombings and assassinations in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and the Nigerian capital of Abuja.

Marilyn Ogar, spokesperson for DSS told journalists at the press briefing that the arrest of Konduga who is known as AL-ZAWAHIRI in the media and his confessions to operatives of the agency has further confirmed suspicion that the “extremist religious group have political patronage and sponsorship”.

Also fingered by the suspect is Ali Modu Sheriff, former Governor of Borno State. Konduga said Boko Haram members were against the former Governor and the ANPP because Sheriff used and dumped them, citing an example of a member of the sect who was appointed a commissioner by the Governor, but later relieved of his appointment.

Before he decamped to PDP, the senator had represented Chiboki/ Damboa/ and Gwoza constituency between 2003 and 2011 in the House of Representatives on the platform of ANPP. The suspect said the Senator was working in concert with a former minister before the April, 2011 elections.

The suspect also identified one Ambassador as promising him N10 million, though he died when he was on the way to give him part of the money. Konduga who revealed that Boko Haram has three spokespersons however said he has been on suspension from the group because the members suspected him of working for the security agencies.

Attempts to get reaction of the indicted men, especially Ndume were unsuccessful as at the time of writing this story. The DDS spokesperson however said analysis of AL ZAWAHIRI’s phone has confirmed constant communication between him and the legislator”, which she failed to name.

While narrating the circumstances that led to the arrest of the suspect, Ogar said in a press statement she read to journalists in Abuja that Konduga was arrested on 3rd November, 2011 at Gwange Area of Maiduguri, Borno State.

The DSS spokesperson said the suspect was a former political thug operating under a group known as ECOMOG. She said the suspect has admitted to the intelligence agency operatives that he was recruited by a political stalwart in Maiduguri.

According to her, the Boko Haram operatives has also admitted that following the introduction of compulsory registration of SIM Cards nationwide, he was asked to steal a SIM Card which he used in sending threat messages. The DSS spokesperson also said Konduga told its operatives that the AL-ZAWAHIRI was given to him by the politician that recruited him to portray him as an extremist as well as conceal his true identity.