Former Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume has been acquitted by a Federal High Court of Abuja division yesterday, of the four-count charge of terrorism brought against him by the Federal Government in November 2011.
Ndume who represents Borno South senatorial district, was discharged by Justice Gabriel Kolawole since no prima facie case was established against him.Kolawole, while ruling on the no case submission filed by Ndume, held that the prosecution failed to link the defendant with the alleged crime of hoarding information on terrorism activities and sponsoring the Boko Haram sect.
At the close of prosecution case, Ndume had filed a no case submission through his counsel, Rickey Tarfa (SAN), on the ground that there was no need to open his defense since the prosecution witnesses were unable to prove that he committed the offense for which he was charged.
Adopting Ndume’s position, Kolawole struck out the four-count charges, having faulted the prosecution for failing to give evidence in the charges brought against the defendant.He pointed out specifically that the defendant admitted having contact with the Boko Haram sect as a result of his appointment as a member of the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East.
