NewzA Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced two men arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) to life imprisonment for their membership of the proscribed Boko Haram terrorist group. The men, Abba Mustapha and Bukar Ibrahim, both from Borno State, were sentenced after pleading guilty to charges bordering on membership and providing support for the terrorist group and concealing information on their activities. Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Salim Ibrahim sentenced both defendants to life imprisonment on the first count and 20 years’ imprisonment on the second count.
The sentences were handed down during the Federal Government’s latest phase of mass trials of suspected terrorists at the trial court. The exercise, which began on Thursday, is being conducted across several courtrooms. Among the judges handling the proceedings are Justices Salim Ibrahim, James Omotosho, Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, Hauwa Yilwa, Joyce Abdulmalik and Peter Lifu.
No fewer than 34 suspects were listed for proceedings before Justice Ibrahim, while 25 were listed before Justice Lifu. The post Two Boko Haram members arrested by DSS bag life imprisonment appeared first on Vanguard News. By Ikechukwu Nnochiri The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday convicted and sentenced two men to life imprisonment for providing support to members of the proscribed Boko Haram terrorist group.
The convicts, Abba Mustapha and Bukar Ibrahim, both from Borno State, were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS). Trial Justice Salim Ibrahim handed down the sentence after the duo pleaded guilty to the charge the Federal Government preferred against them. The Federal Government alleged that, aside from aiding the operations of insurgents, the convicts also concealed information about their whereabouts.
While they received life imprisonment on the first count of the charge, the court sentenced them to 20 years on the second count. The judgment followed the resumption of another phase of the mass trial of alleged terrorists and their facilitators by the Federal Government. No fewer than 59 suspects were listed to appear before various judges of the court.
Some of the judges presiding over the cases include Justices Ibrahim, James Omotosho, Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, Hauwa Yilwa, Joyce Abdulmalik and Peter Lifu. It will be recalled that in June, the Federal Government prosecuted over 600 individuals allegedly affiliated with terrorist organisations. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the prosecution, said the exercise was meant to send a clear message that the administration is not treating terrorism with levity.
Summary from source