The 2011 Christmas Day bomber, Kabir Sokoto Umar has been sentenced by a Federal High Court in Abuja to life in prison for the bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, in Niger State.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola gave the sentence on Friday after declaring Umar guilty of the two-count charge against him.

“The prosecution has proved their case beyond reasonable doubt in the two-count charge. Umar is guilty as charged,” the judge ruled.

He held that the convict belonged to an illegal organisation, Boko Haram, and facilitated terrorist acts intended to bomb the Police Headquarters in Sokoto State.

Justice Ademola also held that Umar had information about the planning and bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, on December 25, 2011 but failed to disclose such to security agencies.

The first charge is punishable with a life sentence, and the second charge attracts 10 years imprisonment under Section 7(1) under Terrorism Act, 2011.

The judge described the convict as a pathological liar who did not show remorse throughout the trial.

He commended the prosecution counsel for a job well done, as well as the Department of State Security Service, SSS, for the diligence in investigating the matter and bringing the trial to a conclusion.

The judge, however, noted that the police were not able to investigate the circumstance that brought Umar to the Borno Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, where he was arrested on January 14, 2012.

He urged them to investigate the matter with a view to bringing to justice whoever was involved in helping Umar to hide in the lodge, no matter how highly placed.

Umar was arraigned by the SSS on April 19, in connection with the December 25, 2011 bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger.