The Federal Government, yesterday, reaffirmed its determination to combat terrorism and insecurity across the country, as it commenced another phase of terrorism trial involving more than 600 suspects before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

This was as a doctor treating terrorists was jailed for 20 years, and a Boko Haram informant was sentenced to 15 years.

A Maiduguri-based businessman, Umar Bashir, has also been sentenced to 20 years without an option of fine for financing terrorism in Borno State.

Also, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced a father of 11 and husband of two wives, Isa Isiaka, to 20 years for deliberate refusal to lodge information on the activities of Boko Haram to the Federal Government.

Speaking to journalists after the arraignment of the 600 suspects, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the ongoing prosecution demonstrated the government’s commitment to tackling terrorism.

“The message is clear, direct and straightforward. The present administration is not taking the issue of terrorism lightly. That is why you see ongoing trials,” Fagbemi said.

According to the AGF, the exercise marks the fourth phase of terrorism-related prosecutions under the President Bola Tinubu administration, stressing that acts of terrorism in any form would not be tolerated.

“Let everybody know that terrorism in whatever form or shape will not be tolerated. We will fight with everything we have to make Nigeria a haven for everybody,” he stated.

Providing details of the ongoing phase, Fagbemi disclosed that about 490 suspects were arraigned on the first day, while an additional 84 suspects were expected to appear in court the following day. He noted that the figure excluded 102 cases carried over from the previous phase.

Justice Emeka Nwite also sentenced one of the terrorists, Bello Liman (a.k.a. Alhaji Bello Doctor), to 30 years on the two counts preferred against him by the Federal Government.

According to the charges, Liman, sometime in 2020, in Zamfara State, concealed information which he knew would be of material assistance in securing the apprehension of Usman Kachalla, a leader of terrorists in Nigeria, an offence punishable under Section 8(1) of Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013.

The defendant, reportedly serving a doctor to Kachalla, pleaded guilty to the two counts and was thereafter sentenced to 10 years in count one and 20 years in count two. The sentence shall commence from the date of his arrest on March 20, 2020 and shall run concurrently.

“The term shall be spent by the convict at any correctional service working with the states. At the end of the prison term, the convict shall be deradicalised and rehabilitated.

In related development, Justice Binta Nyako yesterday convicted and sentenced a 55-year-old farmer in Borno State, Ali Mustapha, to 15 years for also concealing information on the activities of Boko Haram.

The farmer, who had been in custody since 2013, was one of the terrorism suspects arraigned by the Office of the AGF. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced accordingly.

BASHIR, who claimed to be a major dealer in Perfume Oil and a Point of Sales (POS) operator, was found guilty of using his United Bank of Africa’s (UBA) account number 2213629628 to facilitate money transfer for members of the Boko Haram sect.

He specifically admitted using the account to accept a cash amount of N5 million from a Boko Haram member, Ibrahim Modu, into the account and later transferred the same into the Access Bank account of the terrorist with number 1834250967.

The convict admitted committing the offence at the Maiduguri Money Market in 2025 and that he made a commission of N20,000 from the deal.

Based on his admission of guilt and his confessional statement, Justice Nyako sentenced him to 20 years without the option of a fine.

The judge turned down the request for leniency by the convict, adding that the law must take its normal course.
THE father of 11 was jailed following his admission of guilt to the terrorism charges instituted against him by the AGF.

Fagbemi, who stood in for the Federal Government, accused the convict of concealing information that would have led to the immediate arrest of members of Boko Haram.

The convict, however, urged the judge to be lenient with him on the grounds of being a first offender and for the sake of his 11 children and two wives.

Justice Nyako rejected his plea as untenable and sentenced him to 20 years without the option of a fine.