22nd November, 2011
Spokesman for the fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga, has been convicted by an Abuja Magistrate Court presided over by Mrs. Oyebode Oyewole.
His conviction followed a plea of guilty pleaded by Konduga when he was arraigned before the court alongside Senator Mohammed Aliyu Ndume representing Borno South senatorial District at the National Assembly.
When the only charge contained in the First Investigation Report filed by the State Security Service, SSS, was read to the accused persons, the senator pleaded not guilty while Kodunga who spoke through an interpreter appointed by the court for him pleaded guilty.
They were charged of conspired to commit a felony, breach of official trust by disclosing official information to persons not authorized to have such information. The offense was said to be contrary to sections 79,98 and 398 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The court noted that the spokesman to Boko Haram can only be sentenced on the strength of section 398 of the CPC which deals with deals with criminal intimidation by anonymous communication which prescribes a term of 2 years imprisonment to an offender.
Counsel to the SSS, Mr. Chris Osagie applied for the sentencing of Konduga to be deferred in view of the aspect of the charge dealing with conspiracy with respect to the plea of the senator as the court will still have to determine the charge against senator Ndume.
The court acquiesced to the request but ordered that the accused persons be allowed unfettered access to their lawyers and should be provided with medical attention on request and also remanded them to the custody of the SSS.
Attempts by the accused persons lawyer, Mr. Cajethan Nnaemeka, to move an application for senator Ndume’s bail were rebuffed by the court which directed the lawyer to bring a formal application to that effect.
Trial of the senator was subsequently adjourned to 6th December.
By Nnamdi Felix / Abuja