BOKO HARAM: SENATOR NDUME KNOWS FATE ON BAIL MONDAY

Senator Ali Muhammed Ndume currently standing trial over his alleged links with Boko Haram on Thursday returned to an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court where he is facing felony charges with an application seeking to be admitted to bail pending his trial.

The court, however, reserved ruling on the application till Monday, December 5, 2011.

Senator Ndume was arraigned by the State Security Services [SSS] alongside the spokesman of the sect, Ali Sada Umar Konduga, who was convicted by the court after pleading guilty to felony.

Ndume, he was remanded in the SSS'custody on November 21 after entering a plea of not guilty to the charge of felony.

At the hearing of the matter, the prosecutor, C.I. Osagie, had told the court that the accused persons conspired to commit felony, breach of official trust, criminal intimidation by anonymous communication by sending text messages to some senior public officials including the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), contrary to Sections 79, 98 and 398 of the Criminal Procedure Code [CPC].

In his bail application, the embattled senator prayed the court to grant him temporary freedom on the grounds that the charges against him are bailable.

Making reference to the nation's statute book, Ndume told the court that he is still presumed innocent until proved guilty by the court.

Besides, he said as a Senator, it would be absurd to contemplate that he could jump bail if his request is allowed.

But the prosecution counsel, Clifford Osagie, objected to Ndume's bail application, saying it would compromise the SSS' investigation which is yet to be completed. The witness would also be compromised owing to Ndume's wealth and contacts if allowed on bail.

Osagie further alleged that Ndome had connived with the second accused, Ali Umar Konduga (aka, Usman Al-Zawahiri), threatening some innocent Nigerians including some public officers like the AGF.

The prosecution counsel told the court that since the accused was yet to controvert the allegation deposed to in his counter affidavit simply means it was true.

Chief Magistrate Oyebola Oyewui, however, adjourned to December 5 her ruling on the bail application.

The court had deferred the sentence for Konduga, after pleading guilty to the charge of criminal intimidation and conspiracy and also ordered him to be remanded in the SSS' custody.

The court, however, remanded Ndume in the SSS' custody pending the determination of his bail application.

Oyewumi, who summarily convicted Konduga according to section 398 of the Penal Code which could attract two years imprisonment, said the sentence be deferred in view of his link to Ndume 's trial.

The court, however, adjourned to December 5 to hear Ndume's application for bail and also to commence his trial.