A 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment