March 25, 2012

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

TERRORISM TRIAL: Intrigues as Ndume names VP Namadi Sambo

The ongoing trial of the sitting lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District, Mohammed Ali Ndume, over his alleged romance with the Jamaatu Ahlil Sunna Lidawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram terrorist sect, may have assumed a dangerous dimension, considering that the accused person has sworn before a Federal High Court in Abuja that the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, was fully aware of his relationship with the sect.
While challenging the legal competence of the 4-count criminal charge that was entered against him by the Federal Government, Ndume, through a 24-paragraph affidavit he attached in support of his motion seeking to quash the charge, admitted having telephone exchanges with members of the Jammatul Sunnah Walid Jihad though denied furnishing them with classified information that has aided their terrorist operations in the country.
The embattled lawmaker who said the first telephone exchange between him and the sect was on October 4, 2011, insisted that the reason the sect approached him was as a result of his being a member of the Presidential Committee that was inaugurated on August 2, 2011, with a view to addressing the security challenges in the North Eastern part of the nation.
It would be recalled that Ndume was arrested by the States Security Services, SSS, on November 21, after a self-confessed spokesman of the sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga, fingered him as one of the major sponsors of the sect.
He was docked before the high court on December 12, 2011, and subsequently released on bail after he had spent 26-days in detention.
He was specifically accused of violating sections 7(1) (b) and 3(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011, by not only disclosing classified information to the terrorist group, but also furnishing them with phone numbers of top government officials, including that of the Attorney General of the Federation.

Sen. Ndume
Though the embattled lawmaker pleaded not guilty to the allegation, the federal government alleged that he had “on or about the 4th day of October, 2011 somewhere between Maiduguri and Abuja, being in possession of the mobile phone number of Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (alias Usman AI- Zawahiri), a terrorist spokesman of the Boko Haram sect which you know to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension of the said Ali Umar Konduga, did fail to disclose same information to a law officer as soon as reasonably practicable and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 7(1)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 7( 1) of the same Act.”
Government further alleged that though the sect notified the accused person of their intention to attack judges of the Borno State Election Petition Tribunal and the National Assembly, he failed to disclose the information to security agencies, adding that he used an MTN GSM line, 08035998045, to send telephone numbers of certain public officers including the AGF, to the Boko Haram spokesman for the purpose of sending terrorist text messages to them.
Investigations by Department ‘C’ had revealed that among those billed to testify against him included the said self-confessed spokesman of the sect, Konduga, who was earlier sentenced to three years imprisonment by an Abuja Chief Magistrate court which also ordered that he should be remanded in the custody of the SSS pending the conclusion of investigation into the alleged conviviality between the sect and the lawmaker.

Meanwhile, in his bid to exculpate himself from the charge, Ndume, in the affidavit which was deposed on his behalf by one Hauwa Abubakar, a legal practitioner in the chambers of his lead counsel, Messrs Rickey Tarfa, SAN, read in part:
“The said Presidential Committee was mandated amongst other terms of reference, to consider any other initiatives that will serve to engender enduring peace and security in the area.
The committee swung into action with a mandate inter alia to dialogue with, negotiate with and arrive at an amicable settlement with the said “Boko Haram” sect.
“He was contacted via phone by people who claimed to be members of the Jammatul Sunnah Walid Jihad (otherwise known as ‘Boko Haram’) as a result of being a member of the Presidential Committee to find amicable settlement to the issue of security confronting the nation.
“His first contact with the said Jammatul Sunnah Walid Jihad (otherwise known as ‘Boko Haram’) was in the course of his national assignment on the security challenges in the North East of the country. “He has never been a member of the Boko Haram and never provided logistics such as telephone numbers to the said terrorist sect or any member(s) of the said sect or any Ali Sanda Umar Konduga.
“He never received any information from Ali Umar Konduga on planned attacks on judges of the Borno State Election Tribunal. The first time he was contacted by one Ali was on 4th of October, 2011 after his inauguration as a member of the said Presidential Committee and in the course of his assignment on the security challenges in North East.
“He promptly informed one Usman, who represented the State Security Service before the Presidential Committee of his contact with the said Jammatul Sunnah Walid Jihad (otherwise known as ‘Boko Haram’ sect) and also other members of the committee.
“He also informed the Director of State Security Service of his interaction with the said “Boko Haram” sect and forwarded a copy of the DVD he obtained from the sect to the Director of SSS for review.
“The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Namadi Sambo, is also aware that he was in contact with the Jammatul Sunnah Walid Jihad (otherwise known as ‘Boko Haram’).
“All actions taken by him with respect to the “Boko Haram” were for and on behalf of the said Presidential Committee as he was mandated by the said Committee. Before his appointment as a member of the Committee, he never had any contact with the said sect or any member or in possession of the telephone numbers of any member of the sect.
“I know of a fact that the charge as constituted is an abuse of court process. There is no offence disclosed against the Accused /Applicant in the proof of evidence.
“The proof of evidence does not disclose any prima facie case against the Accused/ Applicant. There is nothing to link the accused with the alleged offences committed as stated on the charge.
“The Complainant/Respondent will not be prejudiced by the grant of the reliefs sought in this application. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application”, he added.
Having raised allegations against the Vice President, Sambo, and the Director of the SSS, Nigerians are watching to see how the Attorney General of the Federation is going to handle the matter since no one is presumed to be above the law.
If indeed Ndume is facing trial over his alleged non disclosure of information to security agencies pertaining to planned attacks by the terrorist sect, what then should be the fate of any one found to have acted as an accessory to the alleged crime?
Will the AGF summon the VP to appear before the trial court to exonerate himself over the allegation meted against him by the accused person? How far can the Federal Government really go on this one? Is this trial another wild-goose chase?
These are pressing questions that should be answered in due course.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/terrorism-trial-intrigues-as-ndume-names-vp-namadi-sambo/#sthash.aXGPMgoZ.dpuf

What is the government trying to keep away from public eyes?

PDP knows more about Bokoharam than we actually think. I've said it years ago...only gullible Nigerians would think otherwise.

ayukdaboss:
PDP knows more about Bokoharam than we actually think. I've said it years ago...only gullible Nigerians would think otherwise.

Like I always say, It is GAMEOVER for the PDP. We shall continue to watch them closely.
Remember that the same Ali Ndume is/was a member of Jonathan's Boko-Haram Committee, Headed by the same VP Namadi Sambo. Less than a week ago, the CDS openly said Nigeria Govt and BH insurgents have reached a deal of ceasefire in far-way Saudi Arabia. I assume sure Jonathan bestie and Right-hand man Ali Modu Sheriff represented the Boko-Haram in the negotiation table.

it is looking like a PDP affair

GEJ has got no balls to confront these people. Therefore we must kick him and PDP out next year.

The FG has its reasons.You don't expect GEJ to disclose such a classified information to the public?Do you?

National cake

mikeson12:
The FG has its reasons.You don't expect GEJ to disclose such a classified information to the public?Do you?

What is so classified about the information? They're only avoiding a situation where Ndume would start naming them one-by-one in a public hearing.
Somebody bolded stated "PDP is Bokoharam, Bokoharam is PDP - Azazi"...I don't think anybody else has boldly named any other entity as a/an sponsor/accomplice of Bokoharam till date...It's just lies and propaganda that we've been hearing which is falsified by PDP.

Nice defence strategy by Ricky Tarfa SAN. Now the case will really b stalled. However it is one thing to tell the SSS and VP UV been in communication with the spokesman of the terrorist and another thing to give the terrorist vital info including phone numbers of government officials and only God knows what else.

On Genesis of Boko-Haram

“PDP got it wrong from the beginning, from the on-set by saying Mr A can rule, Mr A cannot rule ……according to PDP’s convention, rules and regulation and not according to the constitution and that created the climate for what has manifest itself, this way.”

- Gen Andrew Owoye Azazi

Please Match it up with this Statement

(Before the Dec. 2010 PDP Primaries)

“It is becoming apparent that the recent replacement of Service Chiefs is part of President Jonathan’s plan to use state apparatus to scale the 2011 presidential hurdle.
“Anything short of a Northern President is tantamount to stealing our Presidency. Jonathan has to go and he will go. Even if he uses the incumbency power to get his nomination on the platform of the PDP, he would be frustrated out.”

“The North is determined, if that happens, to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his way to the seat of power on the platform of the PDP against the principle of the party’s zoning policy.

- PDP Founding Member Alhaji Lawal Kaita

PDP is Bokoharam, Bokoharam is PDP. Remove PDP and see how Boko haram would disapear miraculously.





Kicking out all the cluelessness in Nigeria is a job that must be done by everyone of us



#KickOutAllTheCluelessnessComes2015



Sai Buhari 2015

I believe.


God Bless Nigeria.

Canme4u:
PDP is Bokoharam, Bokoharam is PDP. Remove PDP and see how Boko haram would disapear miraculously.





Kicking out all the cluelessness in Nigeria is a job that must be done by everyone of us



#KickOutAllTheCluelessnessComes2015



Sai Buhari 2015

I believe.


God Bless Nigeria.

[size=48]#i-Believe[/size]

Someone is playing politic with the lives of Nigerians.

Exjoker:
Someone is playing politic with the lives of Nigerians.

and he is?

Omenka caseless egift pls your opinion

ayukdaboss:

What is so classified about the information? They're only avoiding a situation where Ndume would start naming them one-by-one in a public hearing.
Somebody bolded stated "PDP is Bokoharam, Bokoharam is PDP - Azazi"...I don't think anybody else has boldly named any other entity as a/an sponsor/accomplice of Bokoharam till date...It's just lies and propaganda that we've been hearing which is falsified by PDP.

Stop making mere assumptions.If Ndume decides to say the truth and expose their chief sponsor Buhari,you guys will turn d north upside down in d name of protest,I guess thats what GEJ is trying to avoid!

If the Jonathan's administration had any interest of the Nation at hand, what should have happened is a very open trial with protection of witnesses who will testify in the trial. There are many ways to protect witnesses (including sworn testimonies, and pre-recorded testimony, etc).

For me, here are why Jonathan is asking for Secret Trial:
- It is just another jamboree (its been long Ndume has been accused of complicity in Terror activities).
- They may have found a way to clear him of all involvements, so the process is just a white-washing act.
- Jonathan may be playing a long shot to win admiration on fighting terror, after spending 5yrs shielding all those accuse of Terror activities.
- This administration is looking for ways to limit the bad publicity this will bring the PDP should the Senator decide not to go down alone by providing details on how deep the PDP led administration is involved in the Boko Haram Project of the Party.
- Ndume have nothing more to offer Jonathan's re-election effort, so this may just be an effort to throw him under the bus.
- Jonathan may also want to use him as a scape goat to force other PDP members who are complicit in Boko Haram not to undermine his 2015 ambition. There are believes that if Jonathan force his way to the PDP ticket, many PDP members will led a protest vote against the PDP.

That Jonathan is doing gwuru-gwuru with the lives of innocent Nigerians, does not make him Intelligent. Everyone knows he is surrounded by the finest political criminals in the history of Nigeria. Anything short of open trial (for a case that should have been concluded since), will not be taken seriously.

mikeson12:



Stop making mere assumptions.If Ndume decides to say the truth and expose their chief sponsor Buhari,you guys will turn d north upside down in d name of protest,I guess thats what GEJ is trying to avoid!

Ogbeni shey you smoke grass? Wetin carry Gen Mohammadu Buhari enter this matter?

barcanista:
and he is?

I don't need to call a name here

Exjoker:
I don't need to call a name here

hehehe I understand your position broda

mikeson12:
The FG has its reasons.You don't expect GEJ to disclose such a classified information to the public?Do you?

You mean PUBLIC information i just read on VANGUARD - empty brain

barcanista - please can you edit the title to reflect the contents of the article. Since its not a personal opinion but from a respectable newspaper report, the title should have read INTRIGUES AS NDUME FINGERS V.P SAMBO IN BOKO HARAM TERRORISM or something like that. We all deserve to know whats going on.

diluminati:
barcanista - please can you edit the title to reflect the contents of the article. Since its not a personal opinion but from a respectable newspaper report, the title should have read INTRIGUES AS NDUME FINGERS V.P SAMBO IN BOKO HARAM TERRORISM or something like that. We all deserve to know whats going on.

VP Sambo has been very loyal to Jonathan and he wants to retain him. So Jonathan is looking for a secret trial so the he can protect his involvement and that of his VP.

PDP is Boko Haram & Boko Haram is PDP. One day, the judgment of God will descend heavily on all those that have presided over the killing of innocent Nigerians.

barcanista:
hehehe I understand your position broda

We have got a lot loose e-dogs here. I dont want them to pounce on me like that poor 4yrs old lagosian

barcanista:
Omenka caseless egift pls your opinion

Had very little to do in the office. Back home getting my hands dirty in the kitchen. Wanna cook beans since our ladies in the house, berem, NgeneUkwenu and Obiagelli have decided to starve us. Will be back to make my input when I'm done.

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omenka:
Had very little to do in the office. Back home getting my hands dirty in the kitchen. Wanna cook beans since our ladies in the house, berem, NgeneUkwenu and Obiagelli have decided to starve us. Will be back to make my input when I'm done.

No be so my brother I no dey town since. I just dey arrive now. In fact I still dey wait my luggage.

diluminati:
barcanista - please can you edit the title to reflect the contents of the article. Since its not a personal opinion but from a respectable newspaper report, the title should have read INTRIGUES AS NDUME FINGERS V.P SAMBO IN BOKO HARAM TERRORISM or something like that. We all deserve to know whats going on.

This thread is only using the Vanguard article to draw inference. Not only Vanguard Article, but also the quotes of Azazi and Lawal kaita. I rightly quoted the title of Vanguard and its content without adding my input. Thanks

omenka:
Had very little to do in the office. Back home getting my hands dirty in the kitchen. Wanna cook beans since our ladies in the house, berem, NgeneUkwenu and Obiagelli have decided to starve us. Will be back to make my input when I'm done.

You will make a good chef

NgeneUkwenu:
[img][/img]
No be so my brother I no dey town since. I just dey arrive now. In fact I still dey wait my luggage.

Welcome Back dear

omenka:
Had very little to do in the office. Back home getting my hands dirty in the kitchen. Wanna cook beans since our ladies in the house, berem, NgeneUkwenu and Obiagelli have decided to starve us. Will be back to make my input when I'm done.

barcanista:
What is the government trying to keep away from public eyes?

How much more low can you go? Quoting an article of March 2012?

Ndume and his Northern cronies are sinking men that wants all man down with them. The government is already in a volatile situation, in as much as I want Ndume and whoever that is involved in this mess prosecuted openly, we have to be analyse their statements and testimonies critically.

Also from this quote

“It is becoming apparent that the recent replacement of Service Chiefs is part of President Jonathan’s plan to use state apparatus to scale the 2011 presidential hurdle.
“Anything short of a Northern President is tantamount to stealing our Presidency. Jonathan has to go and he will go. Even if he uses the incumbency power to get his nomination on the platform of the PDP, he would be frustrated out.”

“The North is determined, if that happens, to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his way to the seat of power on the platform of the PDP against the principle of the party’s zoning policy.".

I think it is safe to say that the North knows much more about Boko haram than GEJ do right?


Then again you call Kaita a PDP founding father all in your effort to link GEJ to the mess but you conveniently forgot that OBJ who is more prominent in PDP than Kaita can ever be in his whole misery is now a sympathizer of APC, Atiku also an APC card carrying member and thousands of them?

So, what is then the difference between both?

I see you have tagged all your follow foot soldiers to help you out.


Get a hate therapy son!

barcanista:
Ogbeni shey you smoke grass? Wetin carry Gen Mohammadu Buhari enter this matter?

Even the old woman in my village knows that Buhari sponsors Bokoharam!

PDP is Boko Haram!

It has never been easier to state the obvious.