Five persons convicted for terrorism charges were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 20 years on Tuesday as part of the Federal Government’s increased attempts to expedite terrorism prosecutions.
Another suspect was placed under remand as part of a new mass trial involving 500 terrorism suspects, ENigeria Newspaper has learnt.
The defendants were found guilty of crimes such as funding Boko Haram, supplying weapons, supporting the group logistically, and being members of the group.
Yusuf Tuggar Abacha received a 20-year sentence from Judge M. O. Olajuwon for membership, information hiding, and attack participation. Justice Binta Nyako, who prioritized rehabilitation and de-radicalization, sentenced four other offenders to 10 to 20 years in prison for comparable offenses.
Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi said the ninth phase of the trials involves 500 suspects, with 227 presented on the first day. He noted that multiple judges are sitting simultaneously during the Easter vacation to expedite proceedings, with trials moved to Abuja for logistical convenience.
“Whether in Kainji or Maiduguri, judges of the Federal High Court are the ones handling these cases. Here, multiple courtrooms allow the trial to proceed faster,” Fagbemi said.
Security was heightened around the court, with suspects transported under heavy guard, and trials conducted openly with local and international observers.
Legal Aid Council DG Aliu Abubakar noted that many suspects admitted to charges, simplifying the process, though a few were acquitted.
The trials are set to continue on Wednesday, as the government seeks to conclude one of the country’s largest terrorism prosecution drives efficiently and transparently.
