Nigeria, May 17 -- Twelve years after Kabiru Umar, alias Kabiru Sokoto, was convicted over the 2011 bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla near Abuja, the suspected Boko Haram member has filed an appeal challenging the life imprisonment sentence imposed on him.

The appellant argued that circumstances beyond his control prevented him from filing the appeal within the prescribed time.

The appeal documents obtained by this newspaper state that Sokoto's delayed application was due to "circumstances beyond" his control, including the deaths of his two previous lawyers. He said he also experienced "repeated custodial transfers" that isolated him, and his family's severe "financial constraints."

The 25 December 2011 bombing, which ...