Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja, has directed that the alleged mastermind of the 2011 Christmas Day bombing of St Theresa’s Catholic Church in Maddala, Niger state, Kabiru Umar, be remanded in Kuje Prison after pleading not guilty to an amended two-counts charge.
Umar, alias Kabiru Sokoto, is facing trial over terrorism charge brought against him by the State Security Service (SSS). He faces a life sentence if convicted of the alleged crimes.The judge said the adjournment will enable his lawyers have unfettered access to him for the preparation of his defence.
The case has been adjourned to 2nd, 6th and 9th of May, 2013 for commencement of trial. Justice Ademola directed Kabiru’s lawyer, Mr. Ibrahim Adamu to get all necessary materials as well as list of defence witnesses required for his client’s defence ready and to serve the prosecutor, Ms. Chioma Odimegwu before the next adjourned date.
The alleged terrorist, Kabiru Umar claimed not to understand English Language hence, the charge was interpreted to him in Hausa Language.
The court further took notice of Kabiru’s wife and two young children who were in court. They had not seen him since his arrest and detention at the SSS facility. The Judge therefore, ordered that the Prison authority should grant the accused immediate family access to him on visitations.
Kabiru Umar, alias Kabiru Sokoto, was alleged to have facilitated the commission of a terrorist act by planning and encouraging his boys who are said to be at large, at Mabira Sokoto in Sokoto state, with the intention to bomb the Police Headquarters in the state between 2007 and 2012.
According to the SSS, he was also alleged to have been in possession of information about the bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church on the 25th of December, 2011, but failed to disclose it to law enforcement officers within a reasonable time to forestall the incident and there by committed an offence contrary to section 7 (1) of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013 and punishable under section 33 (1) of the same Act.
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