Kabiru Sokoto challenges terrorism conviction in court
Convicted terrorist Kabiru Umar (also known as Kabiru Sokoto) claims he was wrongly convicted for terrorism. He has filed a motion through his lawyers to appeal his life sentence, arguing that his conviction was based on the wrong law and that his confession was not voluntary. His legal team also points out that he was not convicted for masterminding the 2011 Christmas Day bombing, but rather for allegedly withholding information. The Court of Appeal has received his application, but no hearing date has been set.
What we know
- Kabiru Umar was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on December 20, 2013, for terrorism-related offences.
- His lawyers filed a motion dated May 13, 2026, seeking an extension of time to appeal the judgment.
- The family only succeeded in locating Umar in March 2026 at the Maximum Security Custodial Facility, Kirikiri, Lagos.
- The defence argues that the trial court wrongly relied on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act instead of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act.
- Umar’s legal team insists he was not convicted for masterminding the 2011 bombing, but for allegedly possessing and failing to disclose information about it.
