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.
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