20th December, 2013
Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
A Nigerian Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday sentenced Kabiru Umar a.k.a Kabiru Sokoto, a Boko Haram chieftain and alleged mastermind of the 2011 Christmas day bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State to life imprisonment.
About 44 people were killed in the bombing incident in which a car packed with explosives was rammed into the gates of the church.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola found the Boko Haram kingpin guilty of organizing terrorist activities in Sokoto State, and having prior knowledge of the bomb attack at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church.
Kabiru Sokoto was also found guilty of planning to bomb the Police Headquarters in Sokoto State.
In sentencing Sokoto to life imprisonment, Justice Ademola relied on the confessional statement made by the accused.
The Judge quoted copiously from the statement especially the portion in which the accused confessed that he had lived in Abaji, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory where nobody knew that he is a Boko Haram member and was in practice as an Islamic instructor with over 500 students.
“Some of my members are in Mabira, Sokoto. I planted them to bomb the police headquarters in Sokoto and I purchased four AK 47 rifles with about 2000 live ammunition,” the Judge said while quoting another part of the statement. The Judge said the confessional statement was further corroborated by another member of Boko Haram who was arrested in Sokoto State.
The arrested Boko Haram operative had told security operatives that they were planted by Kabiru Sokoto, who he also described as “the governor of Sokoto State in the hierarchy of Boko Haram.
The Court finds as a fact that the accused person (Kabiru Sokoto) was the mastermind of the terrorist act in Mabira, Sokoto State,” Justice Ademola said.
The Judge also added that Kabiru Sokoto lied when he disowned the confessional statement attributed to him as well as when he claimed he does not understand English in the course of the trial.
Justice Ademola noted that contrary to his claim, a prosecution witness later confirmed the accused person’s knowledge of English, as well as obtaining four credits in SSCE – and he wrote his examinations in English language.
“The accused person is not a credible witness; he is a pathological liar who has no respect for the truth.
“The prosecution has proved its case and this court finds him guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly the accused person is as guilty as charged,” the Judge declared while pronouncing a sentence of life imprisonment on count one of the charges, in line with the provisions of section 15(2) of EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004, and 10 years imprisonment on count two, as stipulated by section 7(1) of Terrorism and Prevention Act, 2011.
The two sentences will run consecutively.
The Judge also asked the security agencies investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the accused in the Borno State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
Kabiru Sokoto was first arrested by the Police in Abuja on January 14, 2012, but he escaped from Police custody two days later. He was later arrested at the Borno State Governor Lodge, Abuja.
The federal government had charged Kabiru to court over allegations that he trained over 500 men on how to manufacture and detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the Federal Government said that he had prior knowledge that the sect planned to bomb the church on Christmas day but failed to disclose it to any law enforcement officer as soon as reasonably practicable.
He was also accused of facilitating the commission of terrorist acts, including planting bombs at Police Headquarters and some government organisations in Sokoto State