A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four members of Boko Haram to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism charges.
The trial judge, James Omotosho, delivered the ruling on Tuesday, convicting a total of 18 defendants over their involvement in terrorist activities.
The prosecution, led by Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation, alongside Rotimi Oyedepo, presented confessional statements and investigation reports through a witness from the Department of State Services (DSS). The court admitted the evidence.
Those handed life sentences are Ali Abiso, Bakura Abah Kabiru, Ado (also known as Luka Garba), and Babagoni Masawai.
According to the prosecution, Abiso, a 30-year-old from Bama LGA in Borno state, participated in attacks across several communities including Bama, Gwoza and Konduga before July 2022. The offences fall under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Justice Omotosho sentenced him to life imprisonment on two counts, with additional 25-year jail terms on other counts to run concurrently.
Kabiru and Ado also received life sentences alongside additional prison terms, while Masawai was handed multiple sentences including life imprisonment and several 20-year and 10-year terms.
In the same ruling, the court convicted 14 other defendants, sentencing them to prison terms ranging from 20 to 25 years. The sentences were also based on guilty pleas and DSS-backed evidence.
One of the convicts, Ali Mustapha, received a cumulative sentence of 80 years, though the court ordered the terms to run concurrently.
Other convicts include Danbawa Salisu, Modu Ali, Sanda Bello, Mustapha Fali, and several others.
Speaking after the proceedings, the attorney-general revealed that about 500 suspects are currently being prosecuted in phase nine of the ongoing mass trials of terrorism suspects in Abuja.
