A popular member of
Boko Haram sect already convicted of terrorism charges, Kabiru Umar (aka Kabiru
Sokoto), has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan for pardon.
The convict
appealed against the judgment of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which sentenced
him to life imprisonment on December 20, 2013.
But he told
the President through a letter written on his behalf by his lawyer, Sheriff
Okoh, that he was innocent of the offences he was convicted of.
Umar was
jailed for being part of the mastermind of the 2011 Christmas Day bombing of
St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Mandala, Niger State.
His letter
dated December 23, 2013, appealing for presidential pardon was obtained by our
correspondent on Tuesday.
In his
letter, Okoh faulted the process leading to his client’s conviction, and
assured that Umar had offered to help government to solve the Boko Haram crisis
in the country.
He insisted
that Umar was innocent of the charges he was convicted of.
The appeal
letter reads in part, “Your Excellency sir, an innocent man was convicted by
the court on the date aforementioned. It is for this singular reason that we
are applying to you for presidential pardon in the circumstance pursuant to
your exclusive legitimate constitutional powers as enshrined in your golden
conscience and under Section 175(a) and (b) of the Constitution.
“Your
Excellency sir, we are applying for respite and pardon for the convicted felon
Kabiru Umar (alias Kabiru Sokoto) because we have absolute faith in your
compassion and highest sense of fairness, equity and justice first as a
God-fearing man and next, as the leader of the most compassionate nation on
earth.
“Had Kabiru
Sokoto been sentenced in open court for the corporate acts of Boko Haram as a
terrorist organisation, we would not have spared a thought to make this
application, but he was sentenced alone for acts committed by other members of
Boko Haram (an organisation that was only proscribed after his arrest,
detention and the making of his no-case submission before the Federal High
Court, Abuja Division).”
The convict
also offered to help to resolve the Boko Haram crisis if his request for a
pardon was granted by the President, adding that the President had the power to
“right the wrong” against any Nigerian citizen.
His letter
further reads, “Your excellency, we vow to reach out beyond the imagination and
work with you in resolving the Boko Haram imbroglio, with the firm belief that
no quarrel of brotherhood is eternal. We shall undertake this national task for
the pleasure of God Almighty, believing in His divine will for our peaceful,
united, symbiotic and mutual coexistence as brothers and sisters under a fair
and just leader.
“We most
honestly and sincerely urge you to exercise your prerogative of mercy and grant
pardon or respite in this matter in the interest of justice. The law permits
you to right each and every wrong in Nigeria, including those of the courts and
this is one good situation where such powers under Section 175 of our grundnorm
serve the collective interest of our beloved nation towards peace and harmony.”
Umar was
convicted of two counts of terrorism charges by a Federal High Court in Abuja
on December 20, 2013 and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The court
found him guilty of facilitating terrorism acts and concealing information from
security agencies on the December 25, 2011 bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic
Church, Mandala, Niger State.
In his
notice of appeal dated January 17, 2014, which he filed before the Court of
Appeal in Abuja, the convict faulted the judgment of the Federal High Court,
which it said was tantamount to a miscarriage of justice against him
0 Comments