Boko Haram member to die by hanging as court convicts 6 in terrorism trial

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced a Boko Haram member, Auwalu Samaila, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of terrorism-related offences.

The trial judge, James Omotosho, delivered the verdict following Samaila’s guilty plea to a six-count charge brought against him by the federal government.

While delivering judgment on Thursday, the judge noted that the defendant showed no sign of remorse despite the seriousness of his crimes.

“It is when somebody is remorseful and seek forgiveness with God that he can have mercy from him,” the judge said.

“The convict before me is not remorseful despite a lot of atrocities and lives that had gone from his hand.

“May God have mercy on his soul.”

Samaila, a native of Gulak in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, was linked to a series of attacks carried out between 2012 and 2017.

The charges against him included belonging to a banned terrorist organisation, undergoing training in terrorism and weapons handling, and participating in violent attacks across communities in Borno and Adamawa states.

The court heard that he was involved in assaults in Damboa, Borno, as well as Gombi and Hong in Adamawa, where both civilians and military personnel lost their lives.

These offences are punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by Jemila Ade, deputy director of public prosecutions, presented the defendant’s confessional statement, which was admitted as evidence.

In the statement, Samaila said he transported female suicide bombers to target locations.

“I took her to Muna Garage in Maiduguri,” he said, referring to one of the bombers.

He also admitted participating in attacks in Mubi, Chibok, Damaturu, Michika, and Gulak.

According to him, he lost his left leg during a confrontation with the military in Konduga.

In sentencing, Omotosho ordered that Samaila be executed by hanging on counts four, five and six.

The court further sentenced him to 25 years’ imprisonment on counts one and two, and 30 years on count three.

In separate rulings, two other Boko Haram members — Shura Abdullahi and Abdulrahman Ari — were sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to terrorism charges.

Additionally, three others — Aisami Kadi, Umaru Usman, and Abdulrahman Hassan — received prison terms ranging from 20 to 21 years.

Earlier in the week, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, disclosed that 500 suspects are currently being prosecuted in phase nine of the ongoing mass trial of alleged terrorists in Abuja.

The cases are being heard before judges of the Federal High Court.

(The CABLE)