Kabiru Umar, widely recognized as Kabiru Sokoto, has lodged an appeal challenging his conviction in connection with the 2011 attack on St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla. His legal representative, Don Akaegbu, announced the move in a statement, explaining that the decision to appeal came after a thorough review of court proceedings and the judgment handed down by the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 20, 2013.
The defense team also submitted a request for an extension of time, citing delays in initiating the appeal process. They emphasized that the charges brought against their client did not accuse him of directly carrying out or orchestrating the church bombing. According to the lawyers, the specific count in question alleged that Umar possessed information about the incident and failed to report it to law enforcement.
“It is crucial, for the sake of accuracy and fairness, to point out that the charges on which our client was tried and convicted did not allege he executed or masterminded the bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla. Instead, the relevant count claimed he had knowledge of the event and did not disclose it to authorities,” the statement read.
The legal team underscored that the difference between direct involvement and alleged prior knowledge is legally significant, and this matter is a central issue in the pending appeal. The appeal raises questions about the evidence used to secure the conviction and the trial court’s handling of Umar’s defense.
The lawyers further argued that criminal liability must be determined solely based on charges and evidence presented in court. They also revealed that while in custody, Umar earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the National Open University of Nigeria, reflecting his continued efforts at self-improvement despite his circumstances.
“The goal of this appeal is to enable our client to establish and prove his innocence in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement added.