Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Kabir Umar, alias Kabir Sokoto, to life in prison for the bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, in Niger State on Christmas Day 2011.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who gave the sentence on Friday, found Mr. Umar guilty on the two-count charge against him.
Mr. Ademola said, “The prosecution has proved their case beyond reasonable doubt in the two-count charge. Umar is guilty as charged.”
Kabir Sokoto
He held that the convict belonged to an illegal organisation, Boko Haram, and facilitated terrorist acts intended to bomb the Police Headquarters in Sokoto State.
He also held that Mr. Umar had information about the planning and bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, on December 25, 2011 but failed to disclose such to security agencies.
The first charge was punishable with life imprisonment under Section 15(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2004, and the second charge attracted 10 years imprisonment under Section 7(1) under Terrorism Act, 2011.
The judge described the convict as a pathological liar who did not show remorse throughout the trial. he also said that the convict had no respect for truth.
He commended the prosecution counsel for a job well done, as well as the Department of State Security Service, SSS, for the diligence in investigating the matter and bringing the trial to a conclusion.
The judge, however, noted that the police were not able to investigate the circumstance that brought Mr. Umar to the Borno Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, where he was arrested on January 14, 2012.
He urged them to investigate the matter with a view to bringing to justice whoever was involved in helping Mr. Umar to hide in the lodge, no matter how highly placed.
The SSS, on April 19, arraigned Mr. Umar in connection with the December 25, 2011 bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger.
(NAN)
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