Kabiru
Umar, a terrorist suspect, accused of masterminding the bombing of St. Theresa
Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State, on Dec. 25, 2011, opened his defence
at the Federal High Court on Monday in Abuja.
Giving
evidence, Umar, alias “Kabiru Sokoto’’, who assumed the status of a witness,
said the police and the State Security Service (SSS) extracted statement from
him.
“I am
aware of the charges brought against me; but, My Lord, I was tortured and
mistreated several times to confess.
“All
through the period of the investigation, I could not confess to the offence
because I did not commit any offence.
“One of
the operatives of the SSS asked me whether I knew one Habib Bama and I said no.
“He said
to me that Bama was the actual mastermind of the bombings in Madalla.
“I was
afraid of being killed, that was why I ran away from the custody the first
time; I am innocent,’’ he said.
However,
the prosecution counsel, Mrs Chioma Nwiegbu, prayed the court to adjourn the
matter to July 9 for cross examination of the witness.
Umar was
arraigned on April 19 in connection with the Christmas Day bombing.
He is
alleged to have had information about the bombing but failed to inform law
enforcement agents.
The
suspect is also charged with being a member of a terrorist group, known as Boko
Haram,between 2007 and 2012 at Mabira in Sokoto, Sokoto State.
He was
also allegedly found to have facilitated the execution of a terrorist act
within the period.
According
to the charge, the suspect committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) of
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2004.
The
two-count charge attracts life sentence, but the accused has pleaded not
guilty. (NAN)
0 comments:
Post a Comment