Sambo, former DSS DG were aware of my communication with Boko Haram – Ndume

Ali Ndume, a senator from Borno state, who is standing trial for allegedly sponsoring terrorism, has admitted that he had contact with the Boko Haram sect.

Speaking at the federal high court, Abuja, on Tuesday, Ndume said the charges against him were unjust and unfair since he gave former Vice-President Namadi Sambo and the then director-general of the Department of State Service (DSS) the information he got from the sect.

He said contact with Boko Haram was established when he was appointed into the presidential committee on security matters to negotiate for peace with the group.

He also told the court that the charge of failure to disclose information on the workings of Boko Haram could not be sustained against him.

The federal government arraigned Ndume in 2011 and re-arraigned him in 2013 on a four-count charge of allegedly sponsoring the sect.

The offence, according to the federal government, contravened sections 3, 4 and 7 of the terrorism prevention act 2011.

Ndume, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The judge fixed July 4 for ruling on the matter.

-The Cable