Court Jails 18 Boko Haram Members, Four Get Life Sentences

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted 18 members of the extremist group Boko Haram, sentencing four of them to life imprisonment.

The convictions followed guilty pleas entered by the defendants to charges filed by the federal government. A witness from the Department of State Services presented evidence to support the prosecution’s case.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice James Omotosho also sentenced 14 other defendants to prison terms ranging from 20 to 25 years on multiple counts.

The prosecution team, led by Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, alongside Rotimi Oyedepo, tendered confessional statements and investigation reports through the DSS witness, which were admitted as evidence by the court.

Those handed life sentences include Ali Abiso, Bakura Abah Kabiru, Ado (also known as Luka Garba), and Babagoni Masawai.

In one of the cases marked FHC/KNJ/CR/509/2026, Abiso, who was arraigned as the sole defendant, pleaded guilty to all four counts against him. The prosecution said the 30-year-old from Bama Local Government Area of Borno State participated in attacks across several communities, including Bama, Gwoza, Konduga, Bita, Baza, and Aulari, on or before July 8, 2022 — offences punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Justice Omotosho sentenced him to life imprisonment on counts two and four, and 25 years each on counts one and three, with the latter to run concurrently.

Kabiru received life imprisonment on count two and 25 years each on counts one and three, while Ado was sentenced to life imprisonment on count two and 25 years on count one. Masawai was handed life imprisonment on counts six and seven, 20 years each on counts one and two, and 10 years each on counts three, four, and five.

The court also sentenced 14 other defendants after they pleaded guilty, relying on confessional statements and investigation reports presented by the DSS.

Among them, Ali Mustapha was sentenced to 20 years on count one and 10 years each on counts two to seven, amounting to 80 years, although the sentences are to run concurrently.

Other convicts include Danbawa Salisu, Modu Ali, Sanda Bello, Mustapha Fali, Modu Musa, Bidal Modu, Mohammed Abdullahi, Umar Garba, Usman Ahmadu, Hussaini Bukar, Baba Manye, Musa Mai Modu, and Ali Musa.

Speaking on the broader effort, the minister disclosed that about 500 suspects are currently being prosecuted under phase nine of the mass trial of suspected terrorists in Abuja, with cases being handled by judges of the Federal High Court.