11 Boko Haram Members Jailed For 40 To 60 Years

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced 11 Boko Haram members to various jail terms ranging from 40 to 60 years.

They were sentenced for offences under the Terrorism (Prohibition and Prevention) Act.

Justice Egwuatu, however, said their sentence will run concurrently, commencing from the date of their arrest and detention.

Those convicted to various jail terms were Musa Mustapha, Ali Mohammed, Babagana Ali, Abacha Abba, Ali Abbagana Umar, Kadi Agwala, Yahaya Umara, Alhaji Ari, Goni Mustapha, Ali Modu, and Alhaji Fannaya.

Justice Egwuatu ordered that the convicts are to be rehabilitated and de-radicalised after serving their various jail terms.

They were arraigned on various charges ranging from belonging to a proscribed organisation known as the Boko Haram sect and rendering materials and logistics support to members of the group.

The convicts were sentenced upon their confessions to the offences, made in open court as well as in their extrajudicial statements.

Justice Egwuatu, in handing down their various jail terms, held that the court may summarily convict the defendants upon an admission of guilt, without requiring the prosecution to prove its case.

The Judge added that the court can convict an accused on the basis of his confession.

In the case of Alhaji Fannaya, a Boko Haram member from Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, he was convicted and sentenced to 20 years on each of the four-count charge against him.

This was after he pleaded to four of the five counts.

Abacha Abba, a confessed Boko Haram member from Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno, was convicted and sentenced to 20 years on each of the three- count charges, including conveying weapons to members of the sect and receiving training instructions on weapon handling.

On his part, Ali Babagana Umar was convicted and sentenced to 20 years on each of the two-count charges, including rendering support to Boko Haram members.