The Boko Haram kingpin, Kabiru Umar, alias Kabiru
Sokoto, was on Friday sentenced to life imprisonment
by an Abuja Federal High Court for his role in
terrorist activities, including the December 25, 2011
bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla,
Niger State.
He was the governor of Sokoto State in the hierarchy
of the Boko Haram group, according to evidence that
emerged in the course of his trial, which lasted six
months.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola found him guilty of
facilitating terrorist activities in Sokoto State, and
having prior knowledge of the bomb attack at St.
Theresa’s Catholic Church.
Kabiru Sokoto, who was finally apprehended by
operatives of the State Security Service in the Borno
State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja after escaping from
the custody of police officers who initially arrested
him, was arraigned by the Federal Government on
April 19, 2013 on a two count charge bordering on
terrorism.
In count one of the charge, the Federal Government
informed the court that, between 2007 and 2012, the
Boko Haram kingpin facilitated bomb attacks on the
police headquarters in Sokoto State and some other
government organisations in the state, an offence
contrary to section 15(2) of Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.
In count two, he was accused of having prior
information of the bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic
Church but refused to disclose such to law
enforcement officers, an offence contrary to section
7(1) of Terrorism and Prevention Act 2011.
Following Kabiru Sokoto’s claim that he does not
understand English language, the trial had to be
conducted with the aid of an interpreter, who
translated exchanges in Hausa and English
languages.
But evidence emerged in the course of the
proceedings that the Boko Haram kingpin actually
understood English language, having obtained four
credits in the Senior School Certificate Examination
which he wrote in English.
At a point in the trial, Kabiru Sokoto openly disagreed
with the interpreter over the interpretation given to a
statement he made in Hausa Language.
Kabiru Sokoto had denied the two-count charge
during his arraignment, with his lawyers claiming
that he was tortured before he made the confessional
statement tendered as evidence by the prosecution,
in which he owned up to the crimes.
The defence counsel, led by Adamu Ibrahim, also
argued that the prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Chioma
Onuegbu, did not prove the allegations made against
the suspect.
Six prosecution witnesses, who testified against
Kabiru Sokoto, insisted that he was guilty of the
charge brought against him.
In the testimony he gave in his own defence, Kabiru
Sokoto insisted on his innocence.
However, delivering judgment in the matter on
Friday, Justice Ademola held that Sokoto’s
confessional statement, in which he owned up to the
crimes, was factual evidence.
“This court classifies the confessional statement as
freely and voluntarily made by the accused person as
recorded by the witness,” Justice Ademola said.
He went ahead to quote portions of the statement in
which Kabiru Sokoto admitted his role in facilitating
terrorist activities in Kano.
In the statement, Kabiru Sokoto had said, “Here in
Abaji (a satellite town in the Federal Capital
Territory) nobody knows that I am a Boko Haram
member. I have about 500 children that I teach as an
Islamic instructor.
“Some of my members are in Mabira, Sokoto. I
planted them to bomb the police headquarters in
Sokoto and I purchased four AK 47 rifles with about
2000 live ammunition.”
Continuing, Justice Ademola noted that the
statement was also corroborated by the account of
one of the Boko Haram members arrested in Sokoto
State, who informed SSS investigators that they were
planted by Kabiru Sokoto, “who is the governor of
Sokoto State in the hierarchy of Boko Haram.”
“This court finds as a fact that the accused person
(SKabiru okoto) was the mastermind of the terrorist
act in Mabira, Sokot State,” Justice Ademola said.
Also quoting part of Kabiru Sokoto’s confessional
statement, Justice Ademola held that he was indeed
guilty of having prior knowledge of the bomb attack
on St. Theresa’s Catholic Church and refusing to
disclose same to security agents.
Sokoto was quoted to have said in the statement that
“The Madalla (St. Theresa’s Catholic Church)
bombing was carried out by one Bashir Mohammed
and other persons who I cannot remember or know
their name but if their leader Suleiman is arrested,
he will shed more light on the incident because I was
not directly involved.”
Justice Ademola held that Kabiru Sokoto lied when he
disowned the confessional statement attributed to
him.
He noted that Sokoto’s false claim that he does not
understand English was an indication of the fact that
he lied to the court.
“This court finds that the accused person was
economical with the truth right from the beginning of
this trial when he claimed that he does not
understand English language.
“A prosecution witness confirmed the accused
person’s knowledge of English, as well as obtaining
four credits in SSCE – and he wrote his examinations
in English language.
“The accused person is not a credible witness; he is a
pathological liar who has no respect for the truth.”
Concluding, the judge added, “The prosecution has
proved it case and this court finds him guilty beyond
reasonable doubt. Accordingly the accused person is
as guilty as charged.”
Interestingly, just as Justice Ademola was about to
pronounce sentence on Sokoto, his lawyers begged
the judge to “temper justice with mercy” because
the convict has aged parents, a wife and two kids to
take care of.
The defence counsel equally urged the judge to have
mercy on Sokoto because he has not had the
opportunity to see his family since he was
incarcerated about two years ago.
But Justice Ademola stressed that Kabiru Sokoto
does not deserve mercy, having failed to show any
form of remorse throughout the trial.
The judge also condemned Kabiru Sokoto’s claim
that he does not understand English, a development
which made the trial cumbersome as an interpreter
had to translate every statement made in the course
of the proceedings.
“If he can take us for six months translating when he
actually understands, then you will understand what
I am talking about,” the judge said, adding that the
crime was even more condemnable because it
occurred on a Christmas Day.
He therefore sentenced Kabiru Sokoto to life
imprisonment on count one of the charge, in line with
the provisions of section 15(2) of EFCC
(Establishment) Act 2004, and 10 years
imprisonment on count two, as stipulated by section
7(1) of Terrorism and Prevention Act, 2011.
Justice Ademola ordered that the two sentences will
run consecutively, which meant that Kabiru Sokoto
will serve the life sentence first, before serving the
10 years prison term.
The judge in the same vein urged the security
agencies to investigate the circumstances
surrounding Kabiru Sokoto’s arrest in the Borno State
Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
According to Justice Ademola, “The police are yet to
investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest
of the accused person in the Borno State Governor’s
Lodge in Abuja – the seat of power.
“The members of the organisation (Boko Haram)
have permeated all levels of government, the police
have a duty to investigate and bring other persons
involved to book.
“It is imperative that security forces finish off this
investigation so that we can get to the root of this.”
The judgment held amid tight security at the Abuja
FHC, and immediately after the proceedings, heavily
armed SSS operatives whisked Kabiru Sokoto off to
prison. THE PUNCH