- A Federal High Court sentenced three terrorists to death by hanging
- The convicts pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences
- Other suspects received life imprisonment and lengthy jail terms
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three convicted terrorists to death by hanging after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences during the ongoing trial of terrorism suspects.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the convicts, identified as Danladi Lawal, Abdullahi Mohammed and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu, were prosecuted by the Federal Government before different judges of the Federal High Court.
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Justice James Omotosho sentenced 33-year-old Danladi Lawal, also known as Dankawu, after he admitted guilt to a five-count charge.
The court imposed 30 years’ imprisonment on the first count, 15 years on the second, life imprisonment on the third, death by hanging on the fourth count and life imprisonment on the fifth.
Before delivering the sentence, Justice Omotosho told the convict, “May God have mercy on you.”
According to the charges filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Lawal participated in the 2020 abduction of an elderly man from Maikaho village in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The victim was reportedly held for four days at a forest hideout in Ilela while his captors demanded a ransom of ₦950,000 from his family. Prosecutors also alleged that Lawal received ₦450,000 from the ransom proceeds.
The government argued that the incident spread fear within the community and constituted an offence under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.
In a separate ruling, Justice Salim Ibrahim sentenced Abdullahi Mohammed and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu to death after both defendants pleaded guilty to terrorism charges.
Mohammed was convicted on a one-count charge, while Shaibu, who faced a two-count charge, received the death penalty on one count and life imprisonment on the second.
Justice Ibrahim also sentenced another defendant, Mohammed Dezami Sherife, to life imprisonment on three counts after he admitted guilt to offences contained in a 10-count charge.
In another related case, Justice Omotosho sentenced Shamsudeen Muhammad Ibrahim, popularly known as Abu Harira, to life imprisonment on one count and an additional 35 years’ imprisonment on another.
The court found him guilty of supporting the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) by receiving terrorist training and extremist teachings. He was also convicted for failing to report the activities of ISWAP and Ansaru to security agencies.
Meanwhile, Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced Lawi Abubakar Mohammed to 20 years’ imprisonment on each of two terrorism-related counts.
The judge directed that both terms should run consecutively, bringing the total prison sentence to 40 years.
Justice Nwite further ordered that the convict should undergo rehabilitation and a deradicalisation programme after completing his prison sentence before being reintegrated into society.
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