SAN FRANCISCO, January 28, (THEWILL) – Kabiru Umar, also known as Kabiru Sokoto, a member of Boko Haram, who was convicted in 2013 for terrorism activities has accused the Federal Government of frustrating his efforts to appeal his conviction and sentence.
Umar was on December 20, 2013 sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja for his role in the 2011 Christmas Day bomb blast at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State which left about 44 persons dead and 75 others wounded.
Umar, through his lawyer, Sheriff Okoh, told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that the Comptroller of Prisons and his men had made it impossible for him to access his lawyer, to enable him perfect his appeal process.
Sokoto, who is currently serving a life imprisonment term at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, Lagos, is through his application, seeking an order compelling the respondents, the Comptroller General of Prisons and the Attorney General of the Federation, to allow him access to his lawyer.
He also seeks a declaration that the respondents’ alleged decision to deny him access to his lawyer was a violation of his right to a fair hearing, right to counsel and access to justice.
The affidavit read in part, “We have made several personal contacts with the first defendant (the Comptroller General of Prison), his men: S. N. Nwanchukwu , E. O. Ogundele, among others, at the Nigeria Prisons headquarters, Abuja in a bid to persuade them to permit us to see the applicant, but they kept making us indulge in fruitless returns for approvals from the 2nd respondent (AGF) that has not come for over two years.
“Wherefore, we verily believe that their actions are aimed at ensuring that the applicant’s appeal of his conviction and sentence continues to be frustrated in perpetuity.
“The applicant’s appeal before the Court of Appeal is being delayed as a result of the conduct of the 1st respondent and men under his command and supervision.”
When the case was mentioned in court, on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, observed that there was no evidence that respondents have been served with processes (court documents) in the case.
He directed the applicant’s lawyer to ensure service of the processes on the respondents and return on February 4 for the hearing of the motion.
Story by David Oputah
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