Boko Haram: Court sentences four terrorists to life imprisonment, convicts 14 others

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted and sentenced four terrorists who participated in Boko Haram attacks in parts of Borno State between 2021 and 2024 to life imprisonment.

Justice James Omotosho handed down the judgment on Wednesday 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 accordingly.

The court also convicted and sentenced 14 other terrorism convicts to different jail terms, ranging from 20 to 25 years on 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 the sole defendant. After the counts were read to him, Abiso pleaded guilty to all four counts.

Justice Omotosho, who sentenced Abiso to life imprisonment on counts two and four, also committed him to 25 years’ imprisonment on each of counts one and three, totalling 50 years, and directed that the sentences on counts one and three must run concurrently.

According to Justice Omotosho, “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,” Justice Omotosho held.

In 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, aided and participated in Boko Haram attacks carried out in Bama, Gwoza, Konduga, Bita, Baza, and Aulari.

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The offence, the prosecution said, was contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Also, Bakura Abah Kabiru, who actively participated in the terror group’s activities, was sentenced to life imprisonment on count two and given a 25-year jail term on each of counts one and three.

For Ado (a.k.a. Luka Garba), the judge committed him to life imprisonment on count two and 25 years on count one.

Babagoni Masawai was sentenced to life imprisonment on counts six and seven; 20 years’ imprisonment on counts one and two; while the judge committed him to 10 years on each of counts three, four, and five respectively.

Justice Omotosho equally sentenced 14 other convicts to various jail terms after they pleaded guilty to the charges, and their confessional statements with investigation reports were tendered through the DSS investigator, who testified as a prosecution witness.

The convicts include Ali Mustapha, who bagged 20 years on count one and 10 years on each of counts two to seven, making 80 years, with the sentences to run concurrently following a plea for mercy.

Other defendants 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.

Another judge of the court handling terrorism matters, Justice Musa Liman, ordered the release of one convict, Amina Audu, who was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment after pleading guilty to a charge bordering on rendering logistics support to Boko Haram, a proscribed group in the country.

Originally, the prosecution charged the convict on a three-count charge, to which she pleaded guilty to the third count, and the court struck out counts one and two following their withdrawal by the prosecution.

Before the sentencing, Amina Audu, an orphan, told the court that Boko Haram killed her husband four years ago, leaving her with eight children to care for. The convict, who was arrested on April 8, 2024, begged the court for leniency to enable her return to her children.

Justice Liman, in his judgment, sentenced her to one year’s imprisonment to run from the date of her arrest.

Consequently, the court ordered that the convict be released from custody immediately.