The Court of Appeal in Abuja has granted Kabiru Umar, popularly known as Kabiru Sokoto, an extension of time to challenge his 2013 conviction and life sentence for terrorism offences.
A three-member panel comprising Justices Muhammed Danjuma, Ntong Ntong and Eleojo Enenche granted parts of his application seeking permission to pursue the appeal outside the ordinary statutory period.
The appellate court also deemed the notice of appeal already filed as properly filed and served and granted Umar 21 days to file his notice and grounds of appeal in accordance with the order.
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The enrolled order was issued on August 20 and subsequently certified by the Court of Appeal Registry on September 2.
Kabiru Sokoto was convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja in 2013 and sentenced to life imprisonment in proceedings linked to the Christmas Day 2011 bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State.
The bombing, claimed by Boko Haram, killed scores of worshippers and injured many others.
The latest Court of Appeal decision does not amount to an acquittal, reduction of sentence or reversal of the conviction.
Rather, it permits the convicted man to place his grounds of challenge before the appellate court for consideration.
That distinction is legally important. The right of appeal remains part of the criminal justice process even in cases involving exceptionally serious offences. The merits of Sokoto’s challenge will ultimately depend on the grounds presented and the appellate court’s determination of the record of proceedings.
The case will consequently remain one to watch both for its terrorism-law implications and for the appellate principles that may emerge when the substantive appeal is eventually heard.
Source: Premium Times
