A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced two men arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) to life imprisonment for supporting the proscribed Boko Haram terrorist group.
The convicts, Abba Mustapha and Bukar Ibrahim, both indigenes of Borno State, were sentenced after pleading guilty to charges bordering on providing support to the terrorist organisation and concealing information about its activities.
Delivering judgment, Justice Salim Ibrahim sentenced each defendant 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 Federal High Court.
The exercise, which commenced on Thursday, is being conducted across several courtrooms as the government continues the prosecution of individuals accused of involvement in terrorism-related activities.
Other judges handling the proceedings include Justices James Omotosho, Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, Hauwa Yilwa, Joyce Abdulmalik and Peter Lifu.
At least 34 suspects were listed for proceedings before Justice Ibrahim, while 25 others were scheduled to appear before Justice Lifu.
The mass trials form part of the government’s efforts to prosecute terrorism-related cases and hold individuals found guilty of supporting terrorist organisations accountable under the law.Tags
Boko Haram, DSS, Department of State Services, Terrorism Trial, Life Imprisonment, Federal High Court Abuja, Abba Mustapha, Bukar Ibrahim, Justice Salim Ibrahim, Terrorism in Nigeria, Mass Trials of Terrorism Suspects, Nigeria Security
