SaharaReporters has confirmed that Nuhu Mohammed Marafa (alias Babawo), a suspected financier of the terrorist group Boko Haram, is a close associate of Vice President Namadi Sambo. Two days ago, Nigerian soldiers arrested Mr. Marafa in Kaduna State for illegal possession of arms and ammunition. Our investigations established that
the suspect was one of the Vice President’s major promoters when Mr. Sambo ran for the Kaduna governorship in 2007.
Our sources revealed that the suspect ran a political organization for Sambo called “Namadi Ambassadors.”
The Vice President defeated Sani Sha’aban in the said 2007 election and was governor of Kaduna State until President Goodluck Jonathan invited him to be his running mate in the April 2011 election.
SaharaReporters investigations also revealed that Mr. Marafa is a prominent member of ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), duly registered in Sabon Garin Nasarawa Ward of Chikun local government area. A source told us, “He is one of the key players in the party and has great influence in the state’s political affairs.”
Nuhu and son
Following his arrest, there were misleading rumors that he had been set free. But Mr. Marafa was paraded before journalists yesterday, a confirmation that he was in custody. Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Edun, assistant director of public relations of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, stated that the accused and his son are in custody. The military spokesman added: “It must be emphasized at this stage that investigations are still ongoing. Ultimately, the suspects would be handed over to the appropriate authority for further action at the end of investigations.”“The activities for which Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Marafa attracted the attention of the Nigerian Army bordered on issues of national security. Specifically, it has to do with gun-running and suspected connection with and support for a terrorist group. After extensive surveillance, troops of 1 Division of Nigerian Army during the night of 13/14 January 2011, conducted a cordon-and-search operation on the compound of Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Marafa, located at Tirkania, opposite IBBL Kaduna. Before troops could gain entry into the compound, there was a gunshot fired at the soldiers from the compound. It was later revealed that the shot was fired allegedly by Yusuf Nuhu Mohammed, the son of Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Marafa. Yusuf escaped with the weapon by scaling the perimeter wall of the compound.” He was later arrested.
The Nigerian Army gave a list of the following weapons reportedly found in their search of Mr. Marafa’s home:
9 mm ammunition—quantity 9; 6 mm ammunition—quantity 5; 7.62 ammunition (special) ammunition—quantity 1; 7.62 mm (NATO) ammunition—quantity 11; Barrel Gun Cartridges—quantity 17; Pump Action Gun—quantity 1; Double Edged Special Axes—quantity 2; Machetes—quantity 3; An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) bomb in a Mirinda bottle, which if ignited could cause extensive damage.; Bows (metal)—quantity 2; Long Clubs (wood)—quantity 3.; Black Army Belt—quantity 1; Camouflage Belt—quantity 1; Two dog tags belonging to Nigerian Army D2004/1/55/1899 S Adamu and US Army 84637857 Rambo RH.
Nigerian Army camouflage trousers.; Two GSM Phones; 10 pairs of vehicle plate numbers and 3 single vehicle plate numbers.; One whistle; 1 X passport each of Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Marafa (aka Babawo) and his son Mohammed Yusuf Nuhu.; A novel titled The Last Duty by Isidore Okpewho.; 1 driver’s license; 1 group photograph; 2 voters cards; 7 GSM Sim Packs; 1 Computer bag containing GSM phone accessories.
Senator Ndume Says VP Namadi Sambo Was Aware Of His Activities With Boko Haram-VANGUARD (Posted: Mar, 25 2012, 6:03AM)
The ongoing trial of the sitting lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District, Mohammed Ali Ndume, over his alleged romance with the Jamaatu Ahlil Sunna Lidawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram terrorist sect, may have assumed a dangerous dimension, considering that the accused person has sworn before a Federal High Court in Abuja that the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, was fully aware of his relationship with the sect.
While challenging the legal competence of the 4-count criminal charge that was entered against him by the Federal Government, Ndume, through a 24-paragraph affidavit he attached in support of his motion seeking to quash the charge, admitted having telephone exchanges with members of the Jammatul Sunnah Walid Jihad though denied furnishing them with classified information that has aided their terrorist operations in the country.
The embattled lawmaker who said the first telephone exchange between him and the sect was on October 4, 2011, insisted that the reason the sect approached him was as a result of his being a member of the Presidential Committee that was inaugurated on August 2, 2011, with a view to addressing the security challenges in the North Eastern part of the nation.
It would be recalled that Ndume was arrested by the States Security Services, SSS, on November 21, after a self-confessed spokesman of the sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga, fingered him as one of the major sponsors of the sect.
He was docked before the high court on December 12, 2011, and subsequently released on bail after he had spent 26-days in detention.
He was specifically accused of violating sections 7(1) (b) and 3(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011, by not only disclosing classified information to the terrorist group, but also furnishing them with phone numbers of top government officials, including that of the Attorney General of the Federation.
Though the embattled lawmaker pleaded not guilty to the allegation, the federal government alleged that he had “on or about the 4th day of October, 2011 somewhere between Maiduguri and Abuja, being in possession of the mobile phone number of Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (alias Usman AI- Zawahiri), a terrorist spokesman of the Boko Haram sect which you know to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension of the said Ali Umar Konduga, did fail to disclose same information to a law officer as soon as reasonably practicable and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 7(1)(b) of the Terrorism
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