Ayomide Awe
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced two men accused of supporting the proscribed Boko Haram terrorist group to life imprisonment each, with an additional 20-year jail term apiece, for providing logistical assistance to the group and concealing information.
The convicts, Abba Mustapha, from Bori village in Borno State, and 41-year-old Bukar Ibrahim, also from Borno State, were sentenced by Justice Salim Ibrahim after pleading guilty to the charges brought against them.
The judge handed down life imprisonment on the first count and an additional 20 years on the second count against each defendant.
The sentences were imposed during the Federal Government’s latest round of mass trials of suspected terrorists at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The exercise, which commenced on Thursday, is being conducted across several courtrooms to accelerate the prosecution of terrorism suspects and other defendants facing charges relating to serious crimes against the Nigerian state.
Among the judges presiding over the proceedings are Justices Salim Ibrahim, James Omotosho, Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, Hauwa Yilwa, Joyce Abdulmalik and Peter Lifu.
At least 34 defendants were listed for proceedings before Justice Ibrahim, while 25 others were scheduled to appear before Justice Lifu.
The latest convictions come amid the Federal Government’s renewed efforts to prosecute individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism and related offences.
In July, the government announced the resumption of trials involving terrorism suspects and other individuals accused of committing serious crimes against the state, describing the exercise as part of its commitment to social justice and a transparent justice administration system.
According to the government, the trials are being conducted by the Federal High Court in collaboration with the Complex Casework Group of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and other relevant stakeholders, under the coordination and supervision of the National Counter Terrorism Centre in the Office of the National Security Adviser.
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