B’Haram: Court to hear Senator Ndume’s appeal

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Wednesday fixed November 1 for definite hearing of an appeal filed by Senator Mohammed Ndume to challenge the admission of some evidence in his trial over terrorism charges.

The Federal Government has put the serving Senator on trial before an Abuja Federal High Court over his alleged sponsorship of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

The trial followed allegations made against Ndume by Ali Konduga, a former spokesman of the sect, who is currently serving a prison term after his conviction over terrorism-related charges.

Ndume has appealed against two rulings delivered by the Abuja FHC on December 11 and 12, 2012.

The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, had in both rulings admitted as evidence against Ndume, alleged call logs from a mobile telephone firm, which indicated that the Senator had telephone conversation with Konduga.

Digital video discs containing call-data records, including findings based on investigations carried out by the Special Investigation Panel of the State Security Service, were also admitted in evidence against Ndume.

The materials admitted in evidence disclosed that there were 73 instances of mobile telephone communication between the Senator and Konduga.

However, Ndume is claiming that the materials admitted in evidence against him were inadmissible.

In his appeal, the Senator asked the Court of Appeal to invalidate the admitted evidence on the ground that the Abuja FHC erred in law by admitting the inadmissible materials.

He described the admitted materials as radically and fundamentally against him.

Meanwhile, the absence of Justice Musa Kurya of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Wednesday stalled the arraignment of 17 suspected members of Boko Haram.

The suspects were charged with acts of terrorism.

The court has however fixed October 9 and 10 for the arraignment of the suspects.

The accused are Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala, Kadiri Mohammed, Mustapha Daura, Abba Duguri, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya, and Musa Audu.

Others are Mati Daura, Farouk Haruna, Abdullahi Azeez, Ibrahim Bukar and Zula Diani.

The Federal Government is charging the suspects with eight counts of conspiracy and acts of terrorism.

The arraignment had similarly been stalled at a previous proceeding due to the absence of an interpreter to read the charges in the language understood by the accused.

Justice Kurya had then adjourned the case to Oct. 2, following an application for adjournment made by the prosecutor, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN).

The accused were allegedly arrested on March 21, 2013 at Plot 5, Road 69, Lekki Phase 1 Housing Estate, and No. 24 Oyegbeni St., Ijora Oloye in Apapa, Lagos.

It was alleged that three packets of explosive construction pipes, 15 detonators, and 11 AK 47 rifles loaded with 30 rounds of life ammunitions, were recovered from the accused at their hideout.

Their alleged offences contravened the provisions of sections 1, 8, 27 (1) (a), and (b) of the Firearms (special provisions) Act, Cap F28, Laws of the Federation,