SECURITY agents have uncovered a new lead linking a detained suspect, Ali Sauda Umar Konduga (a.k.a Usman Al-Zawahiri), to the bombing of the UN House and the Police Headquarters in Abuja.
Konduga has named Senator Ali Ndume as one of the sponsors of the Boko Haram sect. Ndume and Konduga have been arraigned before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court for criminal intimidation. Konduga got a nine-year jail term. Ndume is in the custody of the State Security Services (SSS).
Security reports at the Presidency have foreclosed moves to “politicise” Ndume’s arrest, The Nation learnt.
A source said the screening of Konduga’s call logs has provided fresh clues on the bombing of the UN House and the Police Headquarters.
The August 26 explosion at the UN House killed 23 people; 70 others were injured.
The SSS arrested Babagana Ismail Kwaljima (a.k.a Abu Summaya) and Babagana Mali (a.k.a Bulama) over the UN House attack. It declared a Boko Haram leader, Mamman Nur, wanted .
But the fresh clues indicate that more suspects were involved in the “plot”.
A source, who pleaded not to be named said more suspects are being sought, following the clues.
“At the end of the day, the SSS will determine whether Konduga will still stand trial separately for the two incidents. But we have recorded a breakthrough,” the source said, adding:
“In fact, prior to the bombings, there were telephone calls between Konduga and some highly–placed people. The facts suggest that Konduga has been a key member of the Boko Haram sect, contrary to insinuations in some quarters.”
On Ndume’s fate, the source said: “Instead of reading political meaning into it, those aggrieved should be at the court to go through security reports on him. These will be tendered in court.
“There is no basis for political witch-hunt. We have arraigned him in court; he remains a suspect. The onus is on him to prove beyond reasonable doubt before the court that he had no link with Konduga. We cannot pronounce him guilty.”
The source said: “We cannot join issues with any party but we have security reports on Ndume. We have his statement on oath and the Presidency was in the picture of our findings.
“We won’t stoop so low to release the security reports, but the court is there for all to go and witness the trial, based on our findings and counter-deposition by the Senator.”
Ndume’s family, it was learnt, had wanted to take up issues with the SSS on Friday at a news conference, but the session was called off at the instance of the Senator.
Another source said: “Nigerians should ask Ndume why he asked his family to shelve the Friday briefing. He must have had some information which they do not have.”
Konduga has named Senator Ali Ndume as one of the sponsors of the Boko Haram sect. Ndume and Konduga have been arraigned before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court for criminal intimidation. Konduga got a nine-year jail term. Ndume is in the custody of the State Security Services (SSS).
Security reports at the Presidency have foreclosed moves to “politicise” Ndume’s arrest, The Nation learnt.
A source said the screening of Konduga’s call logs has provided fresh clues on the bombing of the UN House and the Police Headquarters.
The August 26 explosion at the UN House killed 23 people; 70 others were injured.
The SSS arrested Babagana Ismail Kwaljima (a.k.a Abu Summaya) and Babagana Mali (a.k.a Bulama) over the UN House attack. It declared a Boko Haram leader, Mamman Nur, wanted .
But the fresh clues indicate that more suspects were involved in the “plot”.
A source, who pleaded not to be named said more suspects are being sought, following the clues.
“At the end of the day, the SSS will determine whether Konduga will still stand trial separately for the two incidents. But we have recorded a breakthrough,” the source said, adding:
“In fact, prior to the bombings, there were telephone calls between Konduga and some highly–placed people. The facts suggest that Konduga has been a key member of the Boko Haram sect, contrary to insinuations in some quarters.”
On Ndume’s fate, the source said: “Instead of reading political meaning into it, those aggrieved should be at the court to go through security reports on him. These will be tendered in court.
“There is no basis for political witch-hunt. We have arraigned him in court; he remains a suspect. The onus is on him to prove beyond reasonable doubt before the court that he had no link with Konduga. We cannot pronounce him guilty.”
The source said: “We cannot join issues with any party but we have security reports on Ndume. We have his statement on oath and the Presidency was in the picture of our findings.
“We won’t stoop so low to release the security reports, but the court is there for all to go and witness the trial, based on our findings and counter-deposition by the Senator.”
Ndume’s family, it was learnt, had wanted to take up issues with the SSS on Friday at a news conference, but the session was called off at the instance of the Senator.
Another source said: “Nigerians should ask Ndume why he asked his family to shelve the Friday briefing. He must have had some information which they do not have.”
No comments:
Post a Comment