by Kolapo Olapoju

Dr Stephen Davis, the Australian negotiator who recently named Modu Sheriff and Lt. Gen Azubuike Ihejirika as sponsors of the Islamic terrorist sect, Boko Haram, has dared former governor of Borno State to sue him over the allegations, if he so wishes.

According to Davis’ allegations, Sheriff sponsors young men for lesser hajj from where they are recruited into the group, a claim that the former governor has expressively refuted, whila also threatening to sue the Australian.

Sheriff released a press statement on Wednesday, 3 September, denying any involvement with Boko Haram.

He claimed that his younger brother, Goni, was killed by Boko Haram and despite his former commissioner, Buji Foi, being named a member of the sect, he doesn’t fund the militants.

However, Davis has stated that his allegations are factual and also urged Sheriff to take him to court.

He said, “He is worried, is he? He knows that if he goes to court, the evidence will be produced and he cannot escape justice. Let him go to court if that is what he wishes. It is his right to do so. He will not be able to avoid close examination and then the facts will be known.”

“Good luck to him if he decides to sue me in Australia. He can’t buy the judges here. Truth is not for sale. Australia has zero toleration for those who might sponsor terrorism.”

“No one should be above the law whether in Australia or Nigeria. Justice must be served for every Nigerian killed, every girl and boy kidnapped, every girl raped, every person who has lost their home in the course of this violence. It seems to me the extent of involvement of every person named by Boko Haram as a sponsor should be closely and thoroughly examined by the correct authorities,” he added.

Davis also reaffirmed the sureness of his facts, which he got from his conversations with Boko Haram commanders. He said he recently spoke to the sect’s leaders and they were consistent in their assertions of Sheriff’s sponsorship of the terrorist group.

He said, “I read his defence on the media this week. Rather than come out as a statement of facts, it read like a novel of unconvincing fiction. In the last 48 hours, I have been in touch with some commanders of the group and they maintain their stand on Sheriff’s involvement. Sheriff’s ploy of casting himself as a victim is a poor attempt at disguising his sponsorship as alleged by the Boko Haram commanders.”

Dr. Stephen Davis was in Nigeria earlier this year to help negotiate the release of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls.

Kolapo Olapoju