A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday granted the request by the Federal Government to re-open its case against Senator Aliyu Ndume, who is standing trial over an alleged link with Boko Haram sect.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in a ruling, specifically gave the Federal Government the nod to file additional proof of evidence containing serious incriminating evidence against Ndume.
The court also gave government the liberty to call more witnesses to establish its fresh evidence against the senator for admissibility purposes.
The Federal Government had earlier closed its case in the matter until recently when it filed an application to call more witnesses. Ndume had vehemently opposed the application
But ruling on the application yesterday, Justice Kolawole held that it would be against his judicial powers to shut out any evidence.
He however held that documents tendered and marked rejected cannot be tendered again, through any of the witnesses.
Ndume was charged before the court in 2012 for allegedly having link with Boko Haram.
Government through its counsel, E. Orji, a a lawyer in the office of the Attorney- General of the Federation, in a motion urged the court to allow him file additional proof of evidence against Ndume.
But Ndume’s counsel, Mr. I. A. Kaigama, in his response told the court that the motion will over-reach the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
He described the motion as a gross abuse of the process of the court which has no fact to convince the court to grant it.
Ndume’s trial followed allegations made against him by Ali Konduga, a former spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, who is currently serving a prison term after his conviction over terrorism- related charges.
Ndume has appealed against two rulings delivered by the trial court on December 11 and 12, 2012.
Justice Kolawole, had in both rulings admitted as evidence against Ndume, alleged call logs from a mobile telephone firm, which indicated that the Senator had telephone conversation with Konduga.
Digital video discs containing call-data records, including findings based on investigations carried out by the Special Investigation Panel of the State Security Service, were also admitted in evidence against him.
The materials admitted in evidence disclosed that there were 73 instances of mobile telephone conversation between Ndume and Konduga.
However, Ndume is claiming that the materials admitted in evidence against him were inadmissible.
