(http://peoplesdailyng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Boko_Haram_Escapee_Kabiru_Sokoto-300x199.jpg) (http://peoplesdailyng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Boko_Haram_Escapee_Kabiru_Sokoto.jpg)By Sunday Ejike Benjamin & Etuka Sunday
Suspected member of the Boko Haram sect, Kabiru Umar (Kabiru Sokoto) standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly masterminding the Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church Madalla, Niger state yesterday gave indication for a no-case submission on the two-count charge preferred against him by the Federal Government.
The indication came after the prosecution closed its case in the trial after calling six witnesses.
Before announcing the closure of its case, prosecution counsel, Mrs.ChiomaUnuegbu called three witnesses, who had their identity hidden and identified only as officials of the State Security Service (SSS).
The witnesses who wore masks to conceal their identity for security reason, told the court how they obtained statement from the accused person, who spoke to his interrogators in Hausa.
One of the witnesses was also an official who translated the accused person's statement into English language.
They referred to some portions of the statement, where Umar allegedly gave an idea of how the sect operates.
In a particular instance, Umar said, in the statement that he learnt that the group's commanding body , the Shurah is concerned with planning and strategizing for the sect's operations, while the other members are involved in the execution of the plans well-being of other members.
At the conclusion of the prosecution's case, defence lawyer, Hassan Lukman sought a fresh date for the defence to make a no-case submission.
He said the defence would contend that no shred of evidence by the prosecution linked the accused to the alleged offence.
The trial Judge, Justice AdemolaAdeniyi who granted the defence's request, adjourned to June 7, 2013 for adoption of parties' written submissions in respect of the no-case submission.
Umar was arraigned on April 19, 2013 on a two-count charge bordering on acts of terrorism.
He is accused of withholding information on the plan to bomb on St.Theresa Church.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North yesterday stated that it visited Kuje Prison and met with officials and those detained, but at no point did the committee report that it met with Kabiru Sokoto or held any discussions with him.
The Committee in a statement said that, "the Chairman had an interactive session with some members of the press but he did not make any such claim and really had no reason to do so as the Committee does not consider Kabiru Sokoto a sufficiently significant figure in the hierarchy of Ahlul Sunnah Lil Da'awa Wal Jihad, to warrant such a special attention to him."
The committee therefore refuted the claim, describing it as a "deliberate act of mischief or sabotage, intended to discredit the work of the Committee, so called on the media and well-meaning individuals to collaborate with the Committee in ensuring the peace, stability and progress of the country.
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