A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday issued an order relocating Mr. Kabiru Sokoto, the suspected operation arrow-head of the dreaded Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, from Kuje prisons to the custody of the State Security Service, SSS.
The order to relocate the suspected bomber of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State, on Christmas day, followed a request by the lead counsel to the Federal Government, Mrs. Chioma Onuegbu, in the matter yesterday.
The prosecution relied on a letter emanating from the Office of the Comptroller General of Prisons stating that there was a major work ongoing at the prison formation, which was stressing the facility.
The prison boss prayed the prosecution to relocate Sokoto to the custody of the SSS where his security could be guaranteed on a day Sokoto himself prayed the court to admit him to bail to enable him prepare for his trial.
But National Mirror gathered yesterday that the main reason for the relocation was not unconnected with the fear of attack of the prison. The court had on April 19 ordered that Sokoto be remanded in Kuje prisons.
But Sokoto was not moved from the SSS custody to Kuje prisons until April 25, following bureaucratic challenges. But even when he was moved to the Kuje prisons, neither his counsel nor his family members could gain access to him.
His lead counsel, Mr H. A. Ibrahim, who protested to the court yesterday over the flouting of its order, however, claimed that access to Sokoto at the custody of the SSS was better than the prison. He said efforts by his team to see Sokoto on April 26, 27 and May 1 at Kuje failed.
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