Court jails five Boko Haram members to 20 years in prison

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday sentenced five Boko Haram convicts to prison terms of up to 20 years as the Federal Government launched the ninth phase of its mass trial of 500 suspects. Judges waived their Easter holiday to ensure the proceedings continued.

Justice M. O. Olajuwon sent Babagana Umar to DSS custody after he denied supplying spare parts and firewood to Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest in 2022 and failing to report the group’s activities to security agencies. His case was adjourned to the next sitting.

Yusuf Abacha was sentenced to 20 years after admitting membership in Boko Haram, concealing information about a fellow member, and participating in attacks. Justice Olajuwon ruled, “I hereby sentence him to 20 years imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently, and he is to be rehabilitated and de-radicalised after serving his term.”

Four more convictions were recorded before Justice Binta Nyako. Shehu Bukar received the heaviest sentence of 20 years for supplying cattle and goats to Boko Haram. The judge described his offence as “so gruesome” and denied requests for a lighter sentence.

Isa Ali and Auwal Bello were each sentenced to 10 years; Ali for providing logistical support, and Bello for handling terror funds, including exchanging about N750,000 and paying N20,000 to the group. A fourth defendant also received 10 years for membership, material support, and fund management linked to the group.

All convicts were ordered to undergo rehabilitation and de-radicalisation after serving their terms, with the Ministry of Interior assigning their correctional facilities.

Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi said 227 of the 500 suspects appeared in court on the first day, with 10 judges sitting simultaneously to expedite the process. “Don’t forget this is an Easter period. Ordinarily, the judges are not supposed to be here… but they have been so patriotic and they have put their service to the nation,” he said, noting that this phase should conclude by Friday or Saturday.

The suspects are accused of attacks across northern Nigeria that killed over 2,000 people, financing terrorism, and supplying arms, food, and other materials to Boko Haram. Fagbemi emphasized that the trials are open and transparent, with observers from Amnesty International, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and the Nigerian Bar Association present.

Legal Aid Council Director-General Aliu Bagudu Abubakar noted that many suspects admitted the charges, which simplified the defence’s work, and confirmed that a few were discharged and acquitted. “For somebody who has been in detention for four, five years… to be acquitted, it shows that the trial has some level of transparency,” he said.

Security was tight, with suspects brought in trucks under heavy guard by DSS, police, and army personnel. The trials are set to continue on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.