By JIDE AJANI & BEN AGANDE
The Department of State Service (SSS) appears to have established a strong connection between the detained Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume and the former spokesperson of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (a.ka Al-Zawahiri).

Information pieced together by Sunday Vanguard, at the weekend, suggest that part of the evidence the SSS has assembled against the senator is what a security source described as “the two-way communication link, via telephone between the senator and the man known as Al-Zawahiri”. It was learnt that the “connect is so strong that even the attempt by the senator’s wife to address a press conference on Friday afternoon had to be quickly thwarted by the senator himself.”

“When it was discovered that the woman (wife) was attempting to address the press on the matter of the detention of her husband”, the source continued, “it was impressed on the husband that should such a press conference be addressed, the Department would go to town with details of its findings which allegedly link the senator to Al-Zawahiri.

From Right, Suspected Financier of Boko Haram and Serving Senator at National Assembly Abuja, Senator Ali Ndume and The acclaimed spokesman of the Boko Haram Sect and former member of Political thug, ECOMOG in Borno State, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga, a.k.a Usman Alzawahiri Convicted by Court after pleaded guilty of the charges against hin in Court at Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

“At that point, the man had to make a quick contact with the wife, putting a halt to the move for a press conference”.

Sunday Vanguard was also made to understand that whereas further investigations were still on, “the evidence we have suggests that when the Police Headquarters was bombed, it was the same Al-Zawahiri who announced to the world claiming responsibility on behalf of Boko Haram and we also believe that, prior to that incident, the two men had communication or were in contact.”

“If that is fully established, the puzzle we are attempting to solve is why the senator did not alert the authorities; but the investigations continue”, the security source disclosed.

In separate interviews with some legislators, surprise was the general expression regarding the matter:

Hon. Sokonte Davies

“In my opinion, it is unfortunate. However, the matter is already in court and so it will be subjudice to make any categorical pronouncement on it until the courts have made a de cision.  “Also he is just an accused for now so it will be wrong to do what is called media trial of the senator, I think he is innocent until proven otherwise by the courts. furthermore, I think it (his arrest)  does impinge much on the integrity of the national assembly even if found guilty, though not found guilty yet. The national assembly has it’s corporate image and although the deeds or otherwise of any of it’s members may have some effect on it whether positive or negative in the short run, but as an institution it wont matter much on the long run”.

Hon. Lanre Odubote

“Definitely, his arrest will affect the image of the National Assembly but since the matter is in court, I would not like to comment much on it. What the National Assembly should do is to follow up the investigation and the prosecution to its logical conclusion so that Nigerians will not see politicians as the people sponsoring violence in the country”.

Hon. Salisu Mahmud

“Since the case is in court, I would not like to comment on his culpability or other wise. What I would like to say however is that, our security agencies should be thorough in their investigations so that they would not be seen to be playing to the gallery. It is shocking that a senator would be alleged to be financing terror but since the case is still in court and the prosecutors are expected to convince the whole world about his culpability, we are keenly following events and would get to the end of the case.”

Ndume and the Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (a.ka Al-Zawahiri) had been docked at the Chief Magistrate Court Zone 2 Abuja on Tuesday when Zawahari was convicted on terrorism charges and the senator’s trial commenced. Zawahiri had pleaded guilty while Ndume pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Oyebola Oyewumi commenced sitting at 2:10pm Ndume wore white buba and matching cap with glasses

Ndume took his plea in English while the 2nd accused spoke through an interpreter

Ndume was calm, but looked apprehensive when the 2nd accused started narrating to the court how he (Ndume) allegedly furnished them with information

He glared at the 2nd accused all through the court session

He looked crest-fallen when the magistrate declined to allow him on bail

The senator dashed to the door immediately the court rose, alongside SSS operatives

At 3:15 pm, he was whisked away in a Peugeot 406 car marked-Abuja-BR-867-RSH. (See details in Abuja Bulletin inside)