Absence of defence counsel stalls nigeria terrorist trial

The alleged mastermind of the 2011 Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Madala, Niger State, Mr. Kabiru Umar, also known as Kabiru Sokoto, was Wednesday brought before a Federal High in Abuja for arraignment on terrorism charges.

 The arraignment however could not to hold as the suspected terrorist had no legal representation.

This is just as Senator Ali Ndume, who is facing terrorism related charges, has applied to the Court of Appeal to stop his trial before a Federal High Court.

Sokoto, who claimed not to understand the English language, spoke through a court interpreter, stating he was not aware that he was being brought to court.

He also informed the court that he had not been served with the charges brought against him by the State Security Service  (SSS).
He requested for a period of two weeks to enable him secure the services of a lawyer to represent him at the trial.