Embattled former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has allegedly told the relevant security agencies investigating alleged sponsors of the dreaded Islamic sect Boko Haram that he is willing to drop the names of financiers of the group to enable the federal government put an end to the security challenge facing the country.
A highly placed source in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, told Nigerian Pilot Sunday that Sheriff, who forcefully found his way to Chad Republic when president Goodluck Jonathan visited the country to find a lasting solution on the crises said he is willing to cooperate with the federal government and all the security agencies.
According to the source, the embattled former governor may be used by the FG as Principal Witness (PW 1) as the alleged sponsors of the sect group if the security agencies find meaning in what Sheriff will say.
“The federal government has the right to decide who to prosecute or not to prosecute; our memory is still fresh when the federal government decided to use Sergeant Barnabas Mshielia a.k.a Sgt Rogers to prosecute Major Hamza Al-Mustapha as PW1.”
He said that the Nigerian security agencies have done wonderfully well particularly the Department of States Security Service, DSSS, in terms of intelligence gathering
“All the security agencies have put in their best, particularly the DSSS, any moment from now the DG SSS Ita Ekpeyong and the National security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki will soon expose those behind the sect group before Nigerians.”
Self acclaimed Australian Boko Haram negotiator, Stephen Davies had claimed that embattled former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff and the immediate past Chief of Army staff, Azubuike Ihejirika a retired General are alleged Boko Haram sponsors.
But, the Former Borno State Governor has said he is ready to face any probe panel that would be set to investigate allegations suggesting he is a sponsor of Boko Haram, even as he described himself as a victim and not a sponsor of the sect.
Sheriff, a two -term governor of the state, made the claim at a news conference in Abuja, following widespread allegations by an Australian, Stephen Davies that he was a major sponsor of the sect in Nigeria.
The revelation by Davies, who claims to be a Boko Haram negotiator engaged by Nigeria, forced the All Progressives Congress, APC, to address the press in Abuja , asking the Presidency to hand over the former governor to the International Court of Justice for prosecution.
But at a media briefing in Abuja, Sheriff rebuked Davies for trying to link him with the atrocities of the Boko Haram sect, saying that the Australian was acting the script prepared by some selfish politicians, who wanted to smear him for defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The former governor, who denied any links with the sect, pointed out that he should be pitied for losing his brother, cousin and numerous political supporters to the sect.
“While in office as governor, I did my best to curtail the activities of the sect. I have never associated myself with any terrorist in any part of the world. I have never in my life met Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of the Boko Haram sect, who died in circumstances that are being investigated,” Sheriff said.
Source: Nigerian Pilot
