There is strong indication that convicted Boko Haram member, Kabiru Umar (a.k.a Kabiru Sokoto) will soon begin to drop names and organisations of alleged sponsors of the dreaded Islamic sect.

He is to unveil the sponsors to the office of National Security Adviser for onward submission to President Goodluck Jonathan if amnesty is granted him.

Sokoto had appealed to the president for official pardon, promising to assist the government in its efforts to end the activities of the now outlawed sect.

A highly security source during the weekend exclusively told Nigerian Pilot Sunday that the convicted sect member and his lawyer had already commenced the process.

According to the source, Sokoto, who is in Kuje Prison in Abuja, where he is currently serving a life sentence, alleged that he is already cooperating meaningfully with some relevant security agencies on how huge amount of money were allegedly sent to the sect group by some Nigeria politicians.

Kabiru Sokoto had written to the president that he would assist the federal government to end the Boko Haram crises while also exposing the Nigeria financiers of the group.

According to the source, with the latest development it will be a major breakthrough in the fight against the Islamic terrorist group.

He said that as soon as the president considers Kabiru Sokoto’s request, those behind the sect group would be exposed.

Umar was convicted on a two-count terrorism charge by a Federal High Court in Abuja on December 20, 2013, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The court found him guilty of facilitating the commission of terrorism acts and concealing information from security agencies on the December 25, 2011 bombing of St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State.

In a letter to the president written on his behalf by his lawyer, Sheriff Okoh, Umar said he was innocent of the offences for which he was convicted.

He also faulted the process leading to his conviction and has also appealed the High Court judgment before the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

The letter to the president reads: “Your Excellency Sir, an innocent man was convicted by the court on the date aforementioned.

“It is for this singular reason that we are applying to you for presidential pardon in the circumstance pursuant to your exclusive legitimate constitutional powers as enshrined in your golden conscience and under Section 175(a) and (b) of the constitution.

“Your Excellency Sir, we are applying for respite and pardon for the convicted felon, Kabiru Umar (alias Kabiru Sokoto) because we have absolute faith in your compassion and highest sense of fairness, equity and justice first as a God-fearing man and next, as the leader of the most compassionate nation on earth.

“Had Kabiru Sokoto been sentenced in open court for the corporate acts of Boko Haram as a terrorist organsiation, we would not have spared a thought to make this application, but he was sentenced alone for acts committed by other members of Boko Haram (an organization that was only proscribed after his arrest, detention and the making of his no-case submission before the Federal High Court, Abuja division).

“Your Excellency, we vow to reach out beyond the imagination and work with you in resolving the Boko Haram imbroglio, with the firm belief that no quarrel of brotherhood is eternal. We shall undertake this national task for the pleasure of God Almighty, believing in His divine will for our peaceful, united, symbiotic and mutual coexistence as brothers and sisters under a fair and just leader. In his appeal, he claimed that he was wrongly convicted and urged the appellate court to set it aside.”

He raised five grounds of appeal including arguing that the trial judge erred in law when he resolved all the doubts, with respect to improper investigation of the case, in favour of the prosecution, a decision he said occasioned a miscarriage of justice.

•Text courtesy of Nigerian Pilot. Photo shows convicted Boko Haram kingpin Kabiru Umar a.k.a Kabiru Sokoto.

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