In the first major decision on cases involving Boko Haram members, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday sentenced four members of the sect to life imprisonment. One bagged 10 years in jail.
Justice Bilikisu Aminu convicted the Boko Haram members on three of the five counts brought against them. One member was freed.
Those sentenced to life imprisonment are Shuaibu Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana-Umar and Mohamed Ali.
Umar Ibrahim bagged 10 years. Musa Adam (43 years and father of seven) was freed for lack of evidence.
The six were arraigned on a five-count charge in 2011 following the April 8, 2011 bombing of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Suleja, Niger State. Sixteen people died in the attack. Many others were injured.
They were also charged with the July 10, 2011 explosions at the All Christians Fellowship, Suleja in which three people were killed and others injured; the March 3, 2011 explosion at a political rally in Suleja, where three people died; and the May 23, 2011 explosion in Dakina Village, Bwuari, Abuja, in which three policemen were killed.
The accused were charged with engaging in illegal training in weapons handling and unlawful possession of weapons for the purpose of engaging in terrorism.
They were charged under Section 15(2) and (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) Act.
Justice Aliyu discharged the convicts on the charges relating to the explosions at the All Christians Fellowship and the killing of policemen in Dakina on the grounds that the prosecution failed to provide convincing evidence to support the charges.
In relation to the other charges, the judge held that the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence to prove the guilt of the convicts.
She freed Adam on the grounds that the prosecution failed to link him with the offences.
Justice Aliyu said those sentenced to life imprisonment “used explosives meant for blasting rocks for mining purposes, to kill human beings who had done nothing against them.
“Human life is sacred. There is no human life that is more sacred than the other. The convicts have shown lack of respect for human life. They deserve to be removed from the society,” the judge held before pronouncing the sentence.
In respect of Umar Ibrahim, who got 10 years, the judge observed that going by the evidence led by the prosecution, he merely served as an errand boy for others, who engaged in the illegal weapon training.
Justice Aliyu held that Ibrahim was culpable for aiding the illegal trainees as he could have refused to run errands for them if he was not in support of their activities.
The judge said: “In the case of the sixth accused person, he was neither directly involved in terrorist acts nor trained as a terrorist; he was misled to be an errand boy.
“His brother, the first accused person (Shuaibu) used him to take food to Boko Haram training camp in Suleja; he is quite young and has life ahead of him.
“In view of the plea from his lawyer, Mr Kevin Okoro, the court is persuaded to commit the sixth accused person (Ibrahim) to 10 years in prison.
“For the rest of the accused persons, the court is satisfied with the evidence brought against them. In most of the charges, the prosecution was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt why they should be convicted.
“It is clear that Abubakar, Ahmed, Babagana-Umar, and Ali are liable to the charges of causing death to several and injury to many others through their willful terrorist acts.
“It is also proven by the prosecution that the above four accused persons are members of Boko Haram and have undergone training to handle weapons and explosives for the purpose of causing death of innocent people.
“The convicts, minus the sixth accused person, used explosive materials used in blasting rocks on fellow human beings; those who got no defence.
“There is no human life that is worthier than the other. These convicts have deliberately used the explosives in the most brutal manner against other Nigerians.
“In the circumstance, the first to fourth accused persons are guilty as charged and are sentenced to life imprisonment while the sixth accused is sentenced to 10 years in prison.
“For the fifth accused person, Musa Adam, his only offence was that he was a friend of Bashir Madalla, the leader of the sect, Madalla Chapter.
“The evidence brought against him is not strong because the charges did not link him to have committed any terrorist act with the rest accused person.
“In his defence, he explained how he warned Bashir Madalla, with whom they were teaching Islamic religion together to refrain from activism.”
Speaking after the judgment, Adam said he was overwhelmed with the turn of events. He said words could not explain the joy he felt on being discharged and acquitted.
Adam, who said he is an Islamic teacher, recalled that he warned Shuaibu Abubakar when he accepted the doctrine of Boko Haram and decided to team up with them.
He said the outcome of the case should teach people that “our religions do not allow the killing of innocent souls”.
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