Boko Haram: Prosecutor's absence stalls Ndume's trial

The trial of Senator Ali Ndume, who is being accused of having links with the dreaded Boko Haram, sect could not go ahead before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja due to the absence of the prosecuting counsel,Mrs O.O Fatunde.The prosecuting counsel had written a letter to the court seeking for an adjournment on the ground that she was on a national assignment.While the court granted the adjournment and fixed March 21, 28 and April 10 for trial, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, frowned on the way the prosecution was wasting time and threatened to strike out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution should the Federal Government continue to ask for adjournment.The senator, representing Borno South senatorial district, is facing a four-count charge of hoarding information on planned terrorist attacks and providing logistics to the convicted spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (also known as Usman AI- Zawahiri).He is also charged for allegedly giving telephone numbers of certain public officers to Boko Haram for the purpose of communicating terrorist messages.The alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under Sections 3(b), 4(1) (a) and 7(1) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.The court had earlier admitted Ndume to bail in the sum of N25 million with two sureties in like sum who must be residing within the boundary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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