Court Jails 18 Boko Haram Members, Four Bag Life Terms

Court Jails 18 Boko Haram Members, Four Bag Life Terms

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted 18 members of Boko Haram, sentencing four of them to life imprisonment after they admitted to terrorism-related offences.

The trial judge, James Omotosho, handed down the sentences on Tuesday following guilty pleas entered by the defendants. The court also relied on evidence presented by a witness from the Department of State Services (DSS), which supported the prosecution’s case.

The prosecution team, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, alongside the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, tendered confessional statements and investigation reports, all of which were admitted as exhibits.

Those sentenced to life imprisonment are Ali Abiso, Bakura Abah Kabiru, Ado, also known as Luka Garba, and Babagoni Masawai.

In one of the cases, marked FHC/KNJ/CR/509/2026, Abiso, who was the sole defendant, pleaded guilty to all four counts brought against him. The court heard that the 30-year-old from Bama Local Government Area of Borno State took part in attacks across several communities, including Bama, Gwoza, Konduga, Bita, Baza and Aulari, before July 2022.

Justice Omotosho sentenced him to life imprisonment on two of the counts, while imposing 25-year jail terms on the remaining charges, to run concurrently.

Kabiru and Ado received similar sentences, each getting life imprisonment on one count alongside additional prison terms. Masawai was handed life sentences on two counts, as well as multiple prison terms ranging from 10 to 20 years on other charges.

The court also convicted 14 other defendants, imposing prison terms between 20 and 25 years after they pleaded guilty to various counts. Among them, Ali Mustapha received a cumulative sentence of 80 years, though the court ordered that the terms run concurrently.

Other convicts include Danbawa Salisu, Modu Ali, Sanda Bello, Mustapha Fali, Modu Musa, Bidal Modu, Mohammed Abdullahi, Umar Garba, Usman Ahmadu, Hussaini Bukar, Baba Manye, Musa Mai Modu, and Ali Musa.

The convictions are part of the ongoing mass trial of suspected terrorists in Abuja. Authorities disclosed that about 500 suspects are currently being prosecuted in the ninth phase of the exercise before different judges of the Federal High Court.