By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four Boko Haram terrorists to life imprisonment.

Justice James Omotosho handed down the judgment after they pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them by the Federal Government and a witness from the Department of State Services (DSS) gave evidence accordingly.

Justice Omotosho, on Tuesday, also convicted and sentenced 14 others to different jail terms, ranging from 20 to 25 years in each of the counts filed against them.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, led the Federal Government’s lawyers, including Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, in the proceedings.

The confessional statements of the convicts and investigation reports were tendered by the prosecution through the DSS witness and were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits.

Those convicts, who bagged life imprisonment, are Ali Abiso, Bakura Abah Kabiru, Ado (a.k.a Luka Garba) and Babagoni Masawai.

In one of the charges, marked: FHC/KNJ/CR/509/2026, the Federal Government sued Abiso as sole defendant.

After the counts were read to him, Abiso pleaded guilty to all the four counts.

Justice Omotosho, who sentenced Abiso to life imprisonment in counts two and four, committed him to 25 years jail term in each of counts one and count three, totalling 50 years.

The judge, however, directed that the sentencing in counts one and three must run concurrently.

“The plea of guilty made by the defendant corroborates his confessional statement and the court is of the irresistible view that the defendant is guilty as charged of the four counts charge.

“In final analysis, this court is satisfied that the prosecution has established the charge against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, he is convicted as charged,” Justice Omotosho ruled.

NAN reports that in count four, the convict, a 30-year-old man from Bama Local Government Area of Borno, was alleged to have, on or before July 8, 2022, aided and participated in Boko Haram attacks carried out in Bama, Gwoza, Konduga, Bita, Baza and Aulari.

The offence, the prosecution said, was contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Also, Bakura Abah Kabiru, who actively participated in the terror group’s activities, was sentenced to life imprisonment in count two and given a 25-year jail term in each of counts one and three.

For Ado (a.k.a Luka Garba), the judge committed him to life imprisonment in count two and 25 years in count one.

Babagoni Masawai was sentenced to life in jail in counts six and seven; 20 years imprisonment in counts one and two while the judge committed him to 10 years in each of counts three, four and five respectively.

Justice Omotosho equally sentenced 14 other convicts to various jail terms.

The judge delivered the judgment after they all pleaded guilty to the charges and their confessional statements with investigation reports tendered through the DSS investigator who testified as prosecution witness.

The convicts are Ali Mustapha, who bagged 20 years in count one and 10 years in each of counts two to seven, making 80 years.

The judge, however, ordered that the sentencing shall run concurrently after a plea for mercy.

Other defendants who were convicted and sentenced by Justice Omotosho for terrorism-related offences are Danbawa Salisu, Modu Ali, Sanda Bello, Mustapha Fali, Modu Musa, Bidal Modu and Mohammed Abdullahi.

Others are Umar Garba, Usman Ahmadu, Hussaini Bukar, Baba Manye, Musa Mai Modu and Ali Musa. (NAN)

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