It Wasn't Me!! Kabiru Sokoto Denies Masterminding Catholic ChurchBombing...

An alleged Boko Haram commander suspected of masterminding the December 25, 2011 bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State, Kabiru Sokoto, on Friday pleaded not guilty to an amended two-count terrorism charge brought against him by the Federal Government.

Sokoto, whose real name is Kabiru Umar, was arraigned amid tight security before an Abuja Federal High Court presided by Justice Ademola Adeniyi.

The arraignment was initially slated for March 20, 2013, but the absence of counsel for the accused person stalled the process.

On that day, the suspected Boko Haram chieftain had asked the court to give him time to get a lawyer.

When the matter resumed on Friday, a team of five lawyers, led by H. A. Ibrahim, appeared in court to defend Sokoto.

The other lawyers are Hassan Lukman, Yahaya Saidu, S. Okoh, and a human rights lawyer from Kaduna, Sadau Garba.

Sokoto’s wife and child were also present in court.

Speaking through a court interpreter, the alleged terrorist denied the two-count charge when it was read to him by the court clerk.

Apart from the charge that he had prior knowledge of the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church bombing, Sokoto was also accused of planning to bomb the headquarters of the Sokoto State Police Command as well as other government organisations in the state.