By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced Hussaini Isma?il, one of the leaders of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, to a 20-year imprisonment.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgment, convicted Isma?il, popularly known as Maitangaran, in the four counts preferred against him by the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judgment was delivered on Tuesday.

In count one, Justice Nwite sentenced him to 15-year jail term; while in counts two, three and four, Isma?il bagged 20-year jail term each, making a total of 75 years.

The judge, however, ordered that the jail terms shall run concurrently beginning from the date of his arrest.

?The term shall be spent by the convict at any appropriate correctional service facility to be chosen by Comptroller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service working with the state.

?It is my order that at the end of his prison term, the convict shall be rehabilitated and deradicalised at any appropriate Rehabilitation and Deradicalisation Centre maintained or allowed by the federal or any state government or in any other manner choosing by the Federal Government or any state government before his release into the society,? Justice Nwite ruled.

The convict, who suddenly opted to retake his plea on Tuesday after the case had lingered for some years and following the overwhelming video evidence played in open court in the previous sitting, pleaded guilty to the amended four-count charge.

NAN reports that the case, which was formerly before retired Justice Anwuli Chikere, was reassigned to Justice Nwite.

The trial suffered delays resulting from appeals and the conduct of a trial-within-trial to, among other things, ascertain the voluntariness of the defendant?s extra-judicial statements.

When trial eventually opened, the prosecution called five witnesses, including two Department of State Service (DSS)? officials and two eye-witnesses to some of the attacks.

Ismaila, who had earlier pleaded not guilty during his previous arraignment, changed his plea to guilty after the testimony of the 5th prosecution witness (PW-5).

Video evidence of how Isma?il was addressing and directing members of his terrorist group to attack was played in open court, prompting his change of mind.

Subsequently, defendant?s lawyer, P. B. Onijah from the Legal Aid Council (LAC), pleaded with the court to be lenient with the defendant.

Onijah said Ismaila was remorseful and changed his plea to avoid wasting the tye time of the court and regretted being involved in terrorism.

Justice Nwite, in the judgment, found Isma?il guilty of the offences charged.

The amended charge was filed on Oct. 3, 2023, by E. Aguda, the prosecuting counsel from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federal and Ministry of Justice.

In count one, Isma?il, 34 years of Brithi village, in Biu Local Government Area, Borno, was alleged to have, sometime in August 2018, did profess to be a member of Boko Haram, a terrorist group in Nigeria.

The offence is contrary to Section 16(1) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

In count two, the convict was was alleged to have, sometime in 2016, directly participated in act of terrorism by carrying out an attack at Kano Central Mosque, Kano.

He was said to have made a video message showing him and his gang members who are currently at large, did confess to the crime at Kano Central Mosque attack, which led to the death of many innocent people.

The offence was contrary to Section 1(2)(a)?of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

Count three accused him of participating in act of terrorism, sometime in 2014, by carrying out an attack on Mobile Police Base, Kabuga Road, Kano State, which led to the death of some personnel of the police station.

In count four, he was said to have, sometimes in 2014, directly participated in act of terrorism by carrying out an attack on Ungwa Uku Police Station, Kano State which led to the death of some personnel of the police station.

The offences are contrary to Section 1(2)(a)? of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act. (NAN)

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