Ex-Boko Haram spokesman named Ndume as financier – SSS

An official of the State Security Service, Mr. Abdulfaruk Dauda, told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday that former spokesman for Boko Haram, Kudunga Abdul, named Senator Ali Ndume as a financier of the group.

Abdul was sentenced to three years in prison after he confessed to being the spokesman for the group.

Dauda, who was cross-examined by Mr Rickey Tarfa, counsel for Ndume, said the accused was interrogated by four sub-committees and a panel in order to test the veracity of the allegation.

The witness said four statements obtained from the accused were filed as exhibits.

Dauda added that the statements did not negate the records of contacts the accused had with the group, “which shows clearly that Ndume was communicating with this group.

He said, “I am an expert in statement taking and I did take the final statement of the accused person handled by the panel, and truly he has some issues to answer and that is why we are here My Lord.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ndume was arraigned on December 12, 2011 on four counts of having links with Boko Haram.

He had denied the allegation on the grounds that the prosecution did not establish evidence linking him with the terror group.

Ndume, a Senator from Borno, said he only made contact with the group while serving as a member of the Presidential Committee set up to help quell the hostilities in the North-East.

He said the transactions with some select members of the group were lawful and targeted at resolving the security challenges.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole adjourned the matter till July 10 for continuation of the trial.

PUNCH