From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Two men arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) have been sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional 20 years each by the Federal High Court in Abuja for supporting the proscribed Boko Haram terrorist group.
Justice Salim Ibrahim handed down the sentences on Thursday after Abba Mustapha, from Bori village in Borno State, and 41-year-old Bukar Ibrahim, also from Borno State, pleaded guilty to charges of providing logistics support to Boko Haram and concealing information.
The judge sentenced each of them to life imprisonment on the first count and 20 years’ imprisonment on the second count.
The convictions came on the first day of the Federal Government’s latest phase of mass trials of suspected terrorists, which is being conducted simultaneously across several courtrooms.
Besides Justice Ibrahim, the judges handling the proceedings include Justices James Omotosho, Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, Hauwa Yilwa, Joyce Abdulmalik and Peter Lifu.
At least 34 defendants were listed before Justice Ibrahim, while 25 were listed before Justice Lifu.
In July, the Federal Government announced the resumption of trials of suspects allegedly involved in terrorism and other serious crimes against the state. It said the move was part of its commitment to promoting social justice through a transparent administrative system.
The government explained that the trials, which follow international criminal justice standards, are being handled by the Federal High Court with the Complex Casework Group (CCG) of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, in collaboration with other stakeholders. The process is coordinated and supervised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
It said more than 300 suspects were on trial before five judges in five courts and chambers set up to speed up the cases.
In April, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted 386 terrorists over four days of trials. They received sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the charges.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who confirmed this, said 508 defendants were arraigned before 10 courts. He told journalists at the end of the exercise that eight defendants were discharged and two were acquitted.