Terrorism: Court Grants Ndume Permission To Travel For Umra

SAN FRANCISCO, June 30, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja Tuesday granted permission to the new Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, to travel to Saudi Arabia for the annual lesser Hajj (umra).

Ndume, who is being tried for alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram and failure to report the activities of the outlawed organisation, was granted the permission by the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole.

The permission was based on Ndume's application for leave to travel for the lesser hajj, consequent upon which Justice Kolawole ordered the court's Deputy Chief Registrar, Litigation, to release Ndume’s passport and other travel documents to him.

In granting Ndume's request, the trial judge based his decision on the fact that the prosecution did not oppose the application which was filed on June 23 and that Ndume had been granted such applications in the past.

Prosecuting counsel, Muslim Hassan, did not oppose the application moved by Ndume’s lawyer, Miss R. Okotie-Eboh, during the Tuesday’s proceedings.

“Since it will not affect the date that has already been fixed for continuation of trial, we feel it is unnecessary to oppose the application,” Hassan said.

The judge however ordered Ndume to return the travel documents to the DCR (Litigation) within 72 hours of his return from his journey.

The embattled Senator, who is scheduled to travel on July 3, had deposited the passport and other travel documents with the court registry in fulfillment of the bail conditions given to him by the judge after he was arraigned on December 3, 2013.

Ndume had also pleaded not guilty to the charges following which he was granted bail.