Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday convicted and sentenced four terrorists, who participated in the Boko Haram attacks in parts of Borno states between 2021 and 2024 to a life imprisonment.
He gave the verdict after the convicts pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them by the Federal Government and a witness from the Department of State Services (DSS) gave evidence.
Fourteen others were also convicted and sentenced to different jail terms, ranging from 20 to 25 years in each of the counts filed against them.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN led the Federal Government’s lawyers, including Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, in the proceedings.
The confessional statements of the convicts and their investigation reports which were tendered by the prosecution, through the DSS witness were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits.
Those convicts, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, include, Ali Abiso, Bakura Abah Kabiru, Ado (a.k.a Luka Garba) and Babagoni Masawai.
In one of the charges, marked: FHC/KNJ/CR/509/2026, the Federal Government sued Ali Abiso as sole defendant. After the counts were read to him, Abiso pleaded guilty to all the four-count charges.
Justice Omotosho, who sentenced Abiso to life imprisonment in counts two and four, committed him to 25 years imprisonment in each of counts one and count three, totalling 50 years and directed that, the sentencing in counts one and three must run concurrently.
He said:”The plea of guilty made by the defendant corroborates his confessional statement and the court is of the irresistible view that the defendant is guilty as charged of the four counts charge.
“In final analysis, this court is satisfied that the prosecution has established the charge against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, he is convicted as charged.”
According to count four, the convict, a 30-year-old man from Bama Local Government Area of Borno state, was alleged to have, on July 8, 2022, participated in Boko Haram attacks carried out in Bama, Gwoza, Konduga, Bita, Baza and Aulari.
The offence was contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Besides, Bakura Abah Kabiru, who actively participated in the terror group’s activities, was sentenced to life imprisonment in count two and given a 25-year jail term in each of counts one and three.
The judge committed Ado (a.k.a Luka Garba) to life imprisonment in count two and 25 years in count one.
He sentenced Babagoni Masawai to life in jail in counts six and seven; 20 years imprisonment in counts one and two while the judge committed him to 10 years in each of counts three, four and five respectively.
He further sentenced 14 other convicts to various jail terms after they pleaded guilty to the charges and their confessional statements with investigation reports tendered through the DSS investigator who testified as prosecution witness.
The convicts are Ali Mustapha, who bagged 20 years in count one and 10 years in each of counts two to seven, making 80 years and that the sentencing shall run concurrently after a plea for mercy.
Other defendants who were convicted and sentenced by Justice Omotosho for terrorism-related offences include, Danbawa Salisu, Modu Ali, Sanda Bello, Mustapha Fali, Modu Musa, Bidal Modu, Mohammed Abdullahi, Umar Garba, Usman Ahmadu, Hussaini Bukar, Baba Manye, Musa Mai Modu and Ali Musa.
Justice Musa Liman, another judge handling the terrorism matters, has ordered the release of one convict, Amina Audu who was sentenced to one year imprisonment after pleading guilty to a charge bordering on rendering logistics to Boko Haram, a proscribed group in the country.
The prosecution charged the convict on a three-count charge which she pleaded guilty to the third count charge and the court struck out counts one and two following their withdrawal by the prosecution.
Amina Audu, an orphan, had earlier told the court that, the Boko Haram killed her husband four years ago, leaving her with eight children to cater for. The convict , who was arrested on April 8, 2024 begged the court for leniency to enable her return to her children.
In his verdict, Justice Liman sentenced her to one year imprisonment to run from the date of her arrest.
