• 2 Boko Haram supporters get life terms; 19 convicted of terrorism, illegal arms, vandalism
From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Federal Government yesterday resumed mass trials of suspected terrorists at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where two Boko Haram supporters were sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional 20 years each.
In separate proceedings in Kebbi State, 19 persons were convicted of offences involving terrorism, unlawful possession of firearms and vandalism of electricity infrastructure, bringing the combined number of convicts to 21.
Justice Salim Ibrahim handed down the Abuja sentences after Abba Mustapha, from Bori village in Borno State, and 41-year-old Bukar Ibrahim, also from Borno, pleaded guilty to providing logistics support to Boko Haram and concealing information.
The men, arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), each received life imprisonment on the first count and 20 years on the second.
Their convictions came on the opening day of the latest phase of the Federal Government’s mass trial programme, with at least 59 defendants listed for arraignment before two of the participating judges.
Thirty-four defendants were on Justice Ibrahim’s cause list, while 25 were listed before Justice Peter Lifu.
Other judges handling the proceedings include Justices Binta Nyako, James Omotosho, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, Hauwa Yilwa and Joyce Abdulmalik.
The proceedings, usually held in Kainji, Niger State, were moved to Abuja and are expected to last a few days. Security was tightened in and around the court premises.
Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, led the prosecution team, while Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, led lawyers representing the defendants.
Among those listed before Justice Ibrahim were Isah Ismail, Alai Goni, Bulama Lawal, Garba Ibrahim, Mallam Modu Abba Kichi, Lawal Alhaji Mamman and Usman Abubakar.
The programme is aimed at clearing the backlog of cases linked to insurgency and armed criminal networks.
In July, the Federal Government announced the resumption of trials of suspects accused of terrorism and other serious offences against the state, saying more than 300 suspects were facing proceedings before five judges.
It said the trials were being handled by the Federal High Court and the Complex Casework Group 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 in the Office of the National Security Adviser.
During an earlier exercise in April, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted 386 defendants over four days, imposing sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said 508 defendants were arraigned before 10 courts during that exercise, while eight were discharged and two acquitted.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Federal Government has secured 1,721 terrorism-related convictions through the mass trial programme launched in October 2017.
Meanwhile, the Kebbi State Police Command said its 19 convictions followed 17 months of investigation and prosecution arising from intelligence-led operations across Yauri, Bagudo, Sakaba and other security flashpoints.
The command’s spokesman, SP Bashir Usman, said in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday that Justice Emmanuel Gakko of the Federal High Court, Birnin Kebbi Judicial Division, delivered the judgments.
Two of the convicts, Aliyu Hadari and Umar Musa-Uzzi, were found guilty on three counts involving terrorism, providing logistics to an armed terrorist group and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
“The court sentenced each of them to 15 years’ imprisonment on each count and ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle and a Bajaj motorcycle to the Federal Government, having established their connection with the offences,” Usman said.
He said the men were intercepted along Yauri Road while travelling in a vehicle acquired to transport kidnap victims to a forest hideout.
Eleven others were convicted of unlawful possession of firearms following the recovery of weapons, including locally fabricated pistols, a locally made Beretta pistol and dane guns.
Among them was a Chinese national, Ripin Liu, who received a six-year prison sentence with an option of fine after his arrest with a locally made Beretta pistol.
Mohammed Bello-Ibrahim, also known as Banki, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment without an option of fine, while Abubakar Siddi, Mohammed Bako, Bello Dantiye, Aliyu Dandaula and Abubakar Usman each received three-year terms without an option of fine.
Buba Alhaji Umaru received a three-year sentence, while John Zweme was sentenced to two years and six months with an option of fine. Aliyu Bako and Sani Alaramma each received two-year terms with an option of fine.
Six others — Sani Tanko, Ibrahim Hamza, Samson Sunday, Abdulrahman Isah, Adamu Musa and Masudu — were convicted of vandalism and stealing electricity cables in Sakaba Local Government Area. They received prison terms ranging from three to eight years.
Usman quoted the Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia, as commending the trial judge, investigators and prosecuting counsel.
“The 17-month process demonstrated the command’s determination to pursue complex criminal cases to their logical conclusion,” Hadejia said.
“The police will sustain operations against terrorism, illegal arms proliferation and economic sabotage. Let me appeal to residents to report suspicious movements and activities to security agencies.”
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