Twelve defendants were sentenced to death by hanging, while dozens of others received prison terms of up to life imprisonment in terrorism, kidnapping and other security-related cases prosecuted by the SSS.
Twelve defendants have been sentenced to death by hanging while many others were handed long prison terms in terrorism and kidnapping cases prosecuted by the State Security Service (SSS), court documents reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES have shown.
Those condemned to death were convicted of terrorism, conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, arms trafficking and aiding terrorist groups.
A highlight of the development is the 3 June sentence by the Federal High Court of Idris Omeiza, Alqasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik and Abdulhaleem Idris to death by hanging over the 5 June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
Dozens of other defendants received sentences ranging from two years to life imprisonment in the terrorism trials held between 15 and 18 June and in different judgments delivered by the federal and state high courts.
The SSS charged the convicts with offences including terrorism, membership of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), rendering support to terrorist organisations, gun running, concealment of information and terrorism financing.
Among those convicted during the June 15 to 18 mass trials, Abdullahi Mohammed Mustapha received the death sentence after being convicted on terrorism charges.
The remaining convicts received various prison terms depending on the offences established before the court.
Several of those convicted were found guilty of membership of Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), while others were convicted for providing material support to terrorist groups, concealing information, gun running or participating in terrorist activities.
The stiffest custodial sentence in the trials was imposed on Inuwa Bala, who was sentenced to 50 years’ imprisonment for gun running.
Saleh Idris was sentenced to 45 years for membership of Boko Haram.
Rabiu Umar and Ndukwe Iroha Kalu each received 40-year prison terms, although for different offences. Mr Umar was convicted of rendering support to terrorists, while Mr Kalu was convicted for membership of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Shamsudeen Ibrahim received 35 years’ imprisonment for rendering support to terrorists.
Other lengthy sentences included:
The court documents further show that some prison terms commenced from the dates of arrest of the convicts, while others were to run concurrently where defendants were convicted on multiple counts.
One of the defendants, Abel Ugwuoke, was sentenced to 20 years on several counts and life imprisonment on two additional counts, according to the judgement.
The documents also show convictions involving offences linked to IPOB.
Among those convicted were:
Two defendants were also convicted of concealing information relating to the sale of ammonium nitrate.
Apart from the June mass trials, the SSS also secured several convictions in state high courts during the month.
On 20 May, the Ekiti State High Court sentenced Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar to death by hanging after their conviction for conspiracy to murder, murder and kidnapping.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants were accused of conspiring to murder a man identified as Taiwo Adesina after kidnapping him in March 2022.
On 16 June, the Kogi State High Court sentenced Jibrin Halilu to death by hanging.
Court documents show he was charged with conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping after investigators alleged he abducted hotel owner Andrew Offo, collected N2.5 million in ransom and killed the victim despite the payment.
The prosecution relied on witness testimony, the defendant’s extra-judicial statement and video evidence during the proceedings.
On 15 June, the Katsina State High Court sentenced Hauwa’u Mukhtar to death by hanging.
She was convicted after prosecutors accused her of acting as an ammunition courier for a suspected bandit leader and transporting 438 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition intended for terrorist operations.
On 22 June, the Sokoto State High Court sentenced Yusuf Muhammad (alias Salau), Jabbi Yalle and Kabiru Maradun to death by hanging.
Court documents alleged they conspired to import and sell prohibited firearms, including AK-47 rifles, PKT machine guns and ammunition to armed groups operating in Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Katsina states.
On 3 June, the Federal High Court sentenced Idris Omeiza, Alqasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik and Abdulhaleem Idris to death by hanging after their conviction over the 5 June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
The charge accused the defendants of belonging to a terrorist group, planning the attack and participating in the assault that killed more than 40 worshippers and injured over 100 others.
