Kabiru Sokoto Pleads not Guilty to Terrorism Charges

The IG

The alleged mastermind of the 2011 Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Madala, Niger State, Kabiru Umar, also known as Kabiru Sokoto, pleaded not guilty at a Federal High Court in Abuja,to terrorism charges leveled against him by the State Security Service. Sokoto, during his own trial spoke through an interpreter having claimed not to understand English Language. He pleaded not guilty as the charges were read and interpreted to him in Hausa language.

The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, after taking his plea, adjourned trial to 2nd, 6th and 9th of May. He directed Kabiru's lawyer, Ibrahim Adamu to front load every material document as well as list of defence witnesses required for his client's defence and to serve Ms. Chioma Odimegwu, the prosecutor, before the adjourned trial date to ensure speedy trial of the case.

Justice Ademola further directed that the alleged terrorist be remanded in Kuje Prison and that his lawyers be allowed unfettered access to him for the preparation of his defence.

The court further took notice of Kabiru's wife and two young children who were in court to catch a glimpse of their father whom they had not seen since his arrest and detention at the SSS facility, and ordered that the prison authority should immediately allow the family of the accused to have access to him.

Sokoto was charged with a two-count offence one of which was that he facilitated the commission of a terrorist act by planning and encouraging his boys who were 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.

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.

The suspected terrorist faces a life sentence if convicted of the alleged crimes.