The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced four terrorism suspects in separate cases, with prison terms ranging from 10 to 20 years.
The cases were presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, who also ordered that all the convicts undergo rehabilitation and de-radicalisation as part of their sentences.
In the first case, marked FHC/KMJ/CR/583/2026, the defendant was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on membership of the Boko Haram group, provision of material support, and handling funds linked to the organisation.
The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, presented evidence including the defendant’s statement and investigation report after he pleaded guilty to all counts.
Justice Nyako subsequently sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently.
“I hereby sentence the convict to a term of 10 years imprisonment for each count from the date of his arrest to run concurrently. He is to undergo rehabilitation and de-radicalisation,” the judge ruled.
In a related case, identified as FHC/KMJ/CR/570/2026, the court sentenced Isa Ali to 10 years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to providing support to Boko Haram.
Ali was initially charged with two counts but pleaded guilty to one, leading the prosecution to withdraw the other count. The court admitted his statement and investigation report before delivering the sentence, which also included rehabilitation.
In another matter, FHC/KMJ/CR/563/2026, Auwal Bello was convicted and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of two counts, to run concurrently, for facilitating terrorism financing.
The court heard that Bello facilitated the exchange of about N750,000 during the naira swap policy and paid N20,000 as tax to the group. He pleaded guilty, and despite a plea for leniency, the court sentenced him accordingly and ordered rehabilitation.
In the final case, Shehu Bukar was arraigned on a five-count charge, including alleged membership of Boko Haram and participation in terrorist activities.
He pleaded guilty to one count of providing support through cattle rustling and supplying livestock to the group, while other charges were withdrawn by the prosecution.
After reviewing the evidence, the court convicted Bukar and sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Justice Nyako described the offence as serious, stating that the court was guided by the provisions of the law in handing down the sentence.
All the convicts are to serve their sentences from the date of arrest at facilities designated by the Ministry of Interior, alongside mandatory rehabilitation and de-radicalisation programmes.
