Federal High Court Delivers Multiple Sentences in Coordinated Terrorism Trials
A coordinated mass trial of suspected terrorists resumed on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with multiple defendants receiving prison sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. At least 13 courtrooms within the Abuja division were simultaneously engaged, highlighting the extensive scale of this judicial exercise targeting individuals accused of links to insurgent activities.
Key Convictions and Sentencing Details
In a significant ruling, the court convicted and sentenced Awal Bello to 10 years imprisonment for facilitating the exchange of N750,000 in Nigerian currency notes to Boko Haram during the 2023 currency swap. Justice Binta Nyako, in her judgment, also imposed an additional 10-year term on Bello for paying a N20,000 tax to the terrorist group, both charges contrary to sections of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013. The sentences are to run concurrently, and Bello was ordered to undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation.
The charges, marked FHC/KNJ/CR/563/2026, were filed by the Federal Government, with Bello as the sole defendant. Count one alleged that Bello, from Mantari Village in Borno State, rendered support by facilitating the N750,000 transaction in 2023, while count two accused him of the N20,000 tax payment. Bello pleaded guilty to both counts and begged the court for mercy.
Additional Cases and Judicial Rulings
In other related cases, Justice Nyako sentenced Hamat Modu to 10 years imprisonment on each of four counts for being a member of Boko Haram, with the terms to run concurrently and rehabilitation ordered. Isah Ali, who was 18 at the time of his arrest, pleaded not guilty to count one but guilty to count two; the court struck out count one and sentenced him to 10 years on count two, also mandating rehabilitation.
Shehu Bukar received a 20-year sentence on count three for selling goats to Boko Haram as a livestock rustler, while pleading not guilty to other counts, including involvement in a terrorist attack in Konduga, Borno. Alhaji Kulle was sentenced to five years on counts one and three for paying N6,000 weekly to Boko Haram, with the terms to run concurrently.
Tasiu Yakubu was jailed for seven years on a one-count charge, with Justice Nyako ordering rehabilitation. Abdullahii Ali received a 20-year sentence for assisting ISWAP with logistic fuel supply, with the term starting from his arrest date in November 2023.
Legal Proceedings and Prosecution Arguments
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, led the prosecution team, which included Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions. They presented confessional statements and investigation reports as evidence, urging the court to apply the law strictly. In Yakubu's case, Fagbemi argued for a 20-year sentence under Section 5 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, but the court imposed seven years with rehabilitation.
Defence lawyers, including Aliyu Abubakar of the Legal Aid Council, pleaded for mercy, citing factors such as youth, remorse, and prolonged detention. Justice Nyako considered these pleas while emphasizing adherence to legal guidelines in sentencing.
This judicial action underscores the Federal Government's ongoing efforts to combat terrorism through legal channels, with a focus on both punishment and rehabilitation for those involved in insurgent activities.
