Sen. Mohammed Ndume, an alleged financier of the Boko Haram sect, has said the State Security Service (SSS) drafted `frivolous’ terrorism charges against him.
Ndume’s counsel, Mr Rickey Tarfa, therefore, told the Federal High Court in Abuja in an application on Thursday, to quash the charges.?
He said the prosecution did not establish evidence linking his client with the terror group.
Tarfa said the action was an abuse of court process, adding that the SSS brought him to the court while he was standing trial in similar charges at a Magistrate Court.
He said the court lacked the jurisdiction to try him; hence the charges should be quashed in the interest of justice.
Tarfa explained that Ndume established contact with the group based on his appointment as a member of the presidential committee to help quell the hostilities in the North East.
According to him, the transactions with some selected members of the group are lawful and targeted at resolving the security challenges.?
“He did not go out of the terms of reference to sponsor them to kill people, why should he do that?’’?
Mrs Olufumilayo Fatunde, the prosecution counsel, prayed the court to dismiss the application, saying that enough evidence had been established against the accused.?
Fatunde said the court had the jurisdiction to try the accused, adding that the application was an attempt to frustrate the take off of the trial.?
Ndume, who was arraigned on Dec. 12, 2011 on a four-court charge of having links with a terrorist group, the Boko Haram Sect.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole adjourned ruling on the motion to June 15.
?
?