This is a joke of the century, after all the killings and attrocities commited by the so called Boko Haram, the former spokesman for the Boko Haram sect was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison which he is to serve out in the custody of the State Security Service because of fears that he could escape if detained in a regular jail.
Ali Sanda Konduga pleaded guilty on November 22 to charges of criminal intimidation, which relate to threatening text messages sent to politicians during his time as a spokesman for Boko Haram, which is blamed for dozens of deadly attacks this year.
When he appeared for sentencing yesterday, Konduga asked the court to treat him with leniency and pledged to help authorities tackle Boko Haram.
Chief Magistrate Oyebola Oyewumi said, “In view of the plea for leniency, this court hereby sentences you, Ali Sanda Konduga, to three years in prison.”
The charges carried a maximum sentence of seven years.
Before pronouncing the sentence, Oyebola asked if he had any reason to ask for mitigation of his sentence.
Konduga, who spoke in Hausa through an interpreter, said, “I have already committed the offense, I plead for leniency. I want the court to be considerate in sentencing me or in the alternative discharge me so I can help bring an end to the Boko Haram crisis by providing whatever necessary information.”
Oyebola said, “In view of the plea for leniency and mercy of the accused person and based on the fact that he was tried summarily, the court can only sentence him to three years imprisonment as against the maximum seven years. By virtue of section 303 of the criminal procedure code, he should be kept in custody of the State Security Services.”
Prosecuting counsel Cliff Osagie had earlier asked that Konduga be detained in SSS custody in view of the recent prison breaks.
Shortly after his sentencing, Konduga spoke to journalists, praising God for the leniency shown to him by the court.
He said the Federal Government should to take their cue from the Hamas and Israeli prisoner swap and release Boko Haram members who are in detention as a means of rapprochement.
He also said the Joint Task Force (JTF), comprising military and riot police, must first stop their activities in Maiduguri if a truce is to be reached with the sect.
“If the government does this, the sect can work with them to reach a compromise,” he said.
Reacting to his father’s claim that he (Konduga) is mentally unstable, he said, “The Quran gives the father one quarter responsibility of the child as such I can’t say anything against him, but I know I am not insane. Since I was young, I never knew myself to be mentally unstable but if my father says so, then probably he noticed it when I was a child. I guess he knows me better.”
Konduga was first arraigned along with Senator Ali Ndume, who he accused of sponsoring him to undertake Boko Haram activities. Ndume pleaded not guilty to charges of passing classified information to an unauthorised person and of criminal intimidation. But his case was withdrawn from the magistrates court and four new charges were presented to a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
The charges against Ndume include providing Konduga with politicians’ phone numbers and not disclosing information to authorities under Nigeria’s Terrorism Prevention Act.
At Konduga’s sentencing hearing yesterday, counsel to Ndume, Regina Okotie-Eboh, asked the court not to proceed with the sentencing because Ndume would be objecting to the jurisdiction of the court. She said the First Information Report (FIR) which was withdrawn by the SSS was tied to Ndume and Konduga.
But Oyebola said counsel to Ndume were in court on Monday and did not object when the SSS applied to withdraw the charges against Ndume. She said the court has the right to serve the trial of any accused person and to strike out the FIR by the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Boko Haram has been blamed for dozens of attacks in Borno, Yobe and Bauchi states, mostly targeting security agencies. It also claimed responsibility for two bombings in this year, including a suicide attack on United Nations headquarters in August, which killed 24 people.
| Posted: at | |
bomsiluv
rayOFsunshine
CammyWhite
TRENDING GISTS 
Crystal Palace v Manchester Utd: English Premier League Match,Team News,Goal Scorers and Stats
Former Kano State Governor, Shekarau’s Residence Razed By Inferno
Heartbroken Father Mourns His 14yr Old Daughter Who Was Reportedly Poisoned in School
Nigeria's VP, Shettima Departs Abuja For 2024 US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas
Moment Canadian Mayor Praises Tinubu For Work Done in Lagos While Honouring Peter Obi at Event
Yvonne Jegede Reveals The Truth About Colleague, Mercy Johnson, While Calling Her Out (Video)
