by Isi Esene

An official of the State Security Service, Abdulfaruk Dauda, told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday that former spokesman for Boko Haram, Kudunga Abdul, named Senator Ali Ndume from Borno, as a financier of the group.

Abdul was sentenced to three years in prison after he confessed to being the spokesman for the group.

Dauda, who was cross-examined by Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), counsel for Ndume, said the accused was interrogated by four sub-committees and a panel in order to test the veracity of the allegation.

Dauda, who described himself as an expert in taking statements, insisted there were existing communication records “which shows clearly that Ndume was communicating with this group.”

Senator Ndume, who strongly denies any links with the group, was arraigned last year on four counts of having operational relationship with the dreaded Islamic group. He maintained that his only contact with the group was as a member of the Presidential Committee set up to help quell the hostilities in the North-East.

The presiding judge, Gabriel Kolawole later adjourned the trial till July 10, 2012.