The alledged mastermind of the 2011 Christmas Day bombing at a Catholic Church in Madala, Niger state Kabiru Umar Sokoto has pleaded not guilty to charges of terrorism filed against him.
Sokoto was accused of complicity in the attack on the Police Headquarters in Abuja and other key government facilities in Sokoto state.
He failed to report to the appropriate authorities and his arraignment was stalled on the 20th March following the inability of the prosecution to provide a proof of evidence along with the amended charges filed against him.
The trial was however stalled due to the inability of Sokoto to get a lawyer to represent him
Sokoto, who arrived the court in the company of security operatives was given access to his lawyers, wife and two children after which he denied charges filed against him.
Having taken his plea, his lawyer attempted to make an oral application for bail but this was rejected by Justice Adeniyi Ademola who asked the defence to bring a formal application for bail when the trial commences.
He also ordered Sokoto’s counsel to file all the necessary documents and serve all parties on or before the 26th of April 2013.
The judge however obliged the request of the accused who asked to be remanded at the Kuje Prison.
Justice Ademola fixed the 2nd and 6th May for the prosecution to open his case against the accused.
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