Eleven years after the deadly Boko Haram attacks on Maiduguri, a Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a member of the terrorist group, Alkali Yarima, popularly known as La’ari, to death by hanging for his role in the 2015 bombings.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice James Omotosho also handed the convict life imprisonment for receiving terrorist training on arms and weapon handling in preparation for acts of terrorism.
The court further sentenced Yarima to 35 years imprisonment for belonging to the proscribed Boko Haram terrorist group and 30 years imprisonment on another terrorism-related count.
Justice Omotosho also imposed 10 years imprisonment each on the convict on counts two, three and four of the seven-count charge filed against him by the Federal Government.
The charge, marked FHC/KNJ/CR/971/2026, was filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), on behalf of the Federal Government.
According to the charge, Yarima, also known as La’ari, from the Lawanti area of Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, remained a member of Boko Haram between 2009 and 2015 and accepted the extremist teachings of the group’s late founder, Mohammed Yusuf.
The offence contravenes Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
On the count that attracted life imprisonment, the prosecution proved that the convict travelled to an Arab country where he received training in arms and weapon handling in preparation for terrorist activities, contrary to Section 21 of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
The court held that Yarima also participated in the 2015 attacks on Maiduguri, an offence punishable by death under Section 2(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
Although terrorism trials are usually conducted at the Federal High Court in Kainji, Niger State, the proceedings in this case were moved to the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Speaking after the judgment, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who led the Federal Government’s prosecution team, reaffirmed the government’s determination to crush terrorism and related crimes across the country.
“We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe place for every citizen in the country,” Fagbemi declared.
