The Federal Government has commenced the trial of over 500 terrorism suspects accused of involvement in various attacks against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The suspects are alleged to have participated in terrorist activities mainly in the northern part of the country, where more than 2,000 Nigerians have reportedly been killed and property destroyed.
Others are accused of aiding and abetting the crimes through direct and indirect support, including the supply of funds, arms and ammunition, as well as food items.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), led the prosecution team, supported by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
The defence team was led by the Director of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Aliu Bagudu Abubakar, with support from several lawyers.
Fagbemi confirmed that 227 suspects were arraigned before 10 judges of the Federal High Court. He commended the judges for sacrificing their Easter holiday to ensure the trials were conducted.
To ensure transparency and adherence to due process, the Attorney General said representatives of international organisations, including Amnesty International, human rights groups, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), were invited to observe the proceedings.
The suspects were transported to court in trucks under heavy security, provided by armed personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), soldiers, and the police.
During one of the proceedings, Justice Binta Fatima Nyako sentenced a food supplier to Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, Hamatu Modu, to 40 years’ imprisonment for his role in terrorism-related activities.
Modu, who reportedly confessed in open court to supplying food items and information to terrorists, was sentenced to 10 years on each of the four counts against him. However, following an appeal by the defence counsel, the judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently, meaning the convict will serve 10 years.
In another case, Isah Ali, also accused of supplying food items to terrorists in Borno, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Justice Nyako.
The judge ordered that the sentence should take effect from three years ago when the convict was arrested and detained.
Justice Nyako also directed that the convicts undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation after completing their jail terms, while the Federal Ministry of Interior was asked to determine where they would serve their sentences.
In a related development, the court sentenced a father of three, Sheu Buka, to 20 years imprisonment for selling goats to Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
Buka, who was arraigned on a five-count charge, admitted to the offence in court and in his extra-judicial statement. Following his denial of four other charges, the Federal Government withdrew those counts and proceeded on one count.
After reviewing the evidence and confessional statement, Justice Nyako convicted Buka and sentenced him to 20 years, rejecting the plea for leniency.
The judge said terrorism has become a major threat across the country and that rendering support to terrorists is a serious offence that must not be condoned.
Similarly, a father of six, Hamza Yahuza, was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for supplying Indian hemp and cigarettes to Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
Yahuza admitted in court that he committed the offence in 2023 and appealed for forgiveness. Justice Nyako rejected his plea and dismissed claims that poverty pushed him into the crime.
The judge ordered that the sentence should begin from March 6, 2023, when the convict was arrested and detained.
The trial of the remaining suspects is expected to continue on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
