The Federal Government on Tuesday commenced the mass trial of 227 terrorism suspects before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The trials of the suspects—who, according to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, number about 500—are being handled by ten judges of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The trial of terrorism suspects, which usually takes place in Kainji, Niger State, was moved to Abuja as the court is currently on Easter vacation, which began on Tuesday, April 7, and will end on April 13, 2026. Regular court sittings will resume on Tuesday, April 14, across all divisions of the Federal High Court.
While the AGF, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, and Becky Jibo, Chief State Counsel, appeared for the prosecution, the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria represented some of the suspects.
The first suspect, Hamat Modu, aged 20, who pleaded guilty to a four-count charge bordering on rendering assistance to members of Boko Haram—a proscribed group in the country—was convicted and sentenced by Justice Binta Nyako to ten years’ imprisonment on each count.
In another case, Isah Ali, also a food supplier in Borno State, who pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him, was handed a ten-year jail term by Justice Nyako. The judge ruled that his sentence would take effect from three years ago when he was arrested and detained.
Justice Nyako also ordered that the convicts be held in any detention facility designated by the Ministry of Interior and undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation at the end of their jail terms.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Nyako also sentenced a father of six, Hamza Yahuza, to seven years’ imprisonment for selling Indian hemp and cigarettes to Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
Yahuza, one of over 500 persons brought before various Federal High Court divisions in Abuja for trial by the AGF for aiding and abetting terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, admitted in open court to committing the offence in 2023 and pleaded for leniency, which the judge declined.
The judge also rejected his claim that poverty pushed him into supplying drugs, Indian hemp, and cigarettes to Boko Haram members.
The convict further admitted supplying various drugs to terrorists in parts of Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State. In her judgment, Justice Nyako sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment, to run from March 6, 2023, when he was apprehended and detained.
Following the guilty pleas of the defendants, prosecution counsel urged the court to convict them as charged after tendering their extra-judicial statements and investigation reports, which were admitted as exhibits.
Also convicted on Tuesday was a father of three, Shehu Bukar, who was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for selling goats to Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
Bukar, who was arraigned on a five-count charge, admitted in open court and in his extra-judicial statement that he committed the offence. Following his denial of four other charges, the Federal Government withdrew those counts, leaving him to be convicted on one.
Justice Nyako, after reviewing the confessional statement, admission of guilt, and investigation report, convicted and sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment.
The judge refused his plea for leniency, noting that terrorism has become a serious concern across the country.
According to the court, rendering support to terrorists is a grave offence that must not be condoned.
Another 20 suspected terrorists are also facing trial before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Other trial judges, apart from Justices Nyako and Nwite, include Justices Musa Liman and Akpan Ekerete, among others.
Some of the suspects listed in Justice Nyako’s cause list include Hamat Modu, Isah Ali, Awal Bello, Shehu Bukar, Alhaji Kulle, Mohammed Abacha Hassan, Aminami Mallum, Tasiu Yakubu, and Abdullahi Ali, among others.
The trial attracted heavily armed security personnel, with all roads leading to the Federal High Court in Abuja cordoned off.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, the AGF said a total of 227 suspects appeared before ten judges, despite the ongoing Easter vacation.
He commended the judges for their patriotism and commitment to national service, stating: “They have prioritised the trial of terrorism suspects to underscore the importance attached to these proceedings.
“This is Phase 9. For this phase, we have 500 suspects in total, and the exercise will last until Friday or Saturday. It is our hope that we will make significant progress.”
Explaining why the trials were moved from Kainji to Abuja, Fagbemi said that whether in Kainji or Maiduguri, the judges handling terrorism cases are from the Federal High Court.
“For logistical reasons, it is not convenient to go to Kainji. Although the same judges would have been ferried there, it is more convenient to sit in Abuja. We have more courtrooms here, and the law permits us to sit here,” he said.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Aliyu Abubakar, who also served as defence counsel, explained that some charges involved suspects paying “Zakat” to the proscribed Boko Haram group.
“When you pay money or give farm produce to Boko Haram by way of appeasing them, it is considered terrorism financing,” he said.
He noted that two suspects were convicted for giving farm produce as Zakat to the group and added that the trial was somewhat easier because many suspects admitted to the charges.
“This has been our experience over the years, and today’s trial is not different. A majority of them admit to committing the offences. Many have been convicted for associating with Boko Haram.
“Some are not active participants in Boko Haram or ISWAP activities. However, under the law, association is treated as seriously as committing the offence itself.
“Some have been convicted for association, while one or two persons have been discharged and acquitted. For someone who has spent four or five years in military custody to be discharged and acquitted shows a level of transparency in the process.
“This exercise will continue until Friday or thereabout,” he added.
