A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Alkali Yarima, also known as La’ari, to death by hanging for his involvement in the 2015 terrorist attack on Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Friday after finding Yarima guilty on a seven-count terrorism charge filed by the Federal Government.
The court imposed the death sentence on the count relating to his participation in the 2015 Maiduguri attack, which was prosecuted under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.
In addition to the death penalty, the judge sentenced the convict to life imprisonment for receiving arms and weapons training in preparation for terrorist activities.
Yarima was also handed 35 years imprisonment on count one, 30 years on count five, and 10 years each on counts two, three and four.
The Federal Government, through the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), had arraigned the defendant in a suit marked FHC/KNJ/CR/971/2026.
The seven-count charge, filed on May 29, alleged that Yarima, a resident of the Lawanti area of Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, belonged to the proscribed Boko Haram sect between 2009 and 2015 before his arrest.
According to the prosecution, the convict accepted the extremist ideology propagated by the late Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, an offence punishable under Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.
The prosecution further told the court that Yarima travelled to an Arab country, where he underwent training in the use of arms and weapons to prepare for terrorist operations, contrary to Section 21 of the Act.
Justice Omotosho held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the defendant on all seven counts.
The court also found him guilty of participating in the deadly 2015 Maiduguri attack, leading to the death sentence.
The trial commenced at the Federal High Court in Kainji, Niger State, before it was later concluded in Abuja.
FOLLOW US
FOR MORE HERE
