KEY POINTS
- Two terrorism convicts received 15 years in prison on each of three counts.
- A Chinese national was sentenced to six years for illegal firearm possession.
- Nineteen people were convicted following a 17-month investigation and prosecution.
The Federal High Court in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, has sentenced two men convicted of terrorism related offences to 15 years’ imprisonment on each of three counts, following a 17-month investigation and prosecution by the Kebbi State Police Command.
The convicts, identified as Aliyu Hadari and Umar Musa Uzzi, were found guilty of terrorism, providing logistical support to an armed terrorist group and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the police command’s spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, the judgment was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Gakko of the Federal High Court, Birnin Kebbi Judicial Division.
The offences contravened the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which provides the legal framework for prosecuting terrorism-related crimes in Nigeria.
The police said Hadari and Uzzi were intercepted along Yauri Road while travelling in a vehicle allegedly acquired specifically to transport kidnapped victims to a terrorist group’s hideout in the forest.
The court subsequently ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle and a Bajaj motorcycle to the Federal Government after determining that the properties were instruments or proceeds of terrorism.
The convictions followed investigations into criminal activities in Yauri, Bagudo, Sakaba and other security-sensitive areas of Kebbi State.
Chinese National Sentenced Over Illegal Firearm
In a separate case involving the unlawful possession of firearms, 11 people were convicted after police recovered 11 assorted weapons, including locally fabricated pistols, a locally made Beretta pistol and dane guns.
Among those convicted was Ripin Liu, a Chinese national who was arrested with a locally made Beretta pistol. He was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, with an option of a fine.
Other defendants received varying prison terms depending on the offences established against them and the sentences imposed by the court.
Mohammed Bello Ibrahim, also known as Banki, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment without an option of a fine.
Abubakar Siddi received a three-year prison sentence without the option of a fine. Mohammed Bako, Bello Dantiye, Aliyu Dandaula and Abubakar Usman were also sentenced to three years each without an option of a fine.
Buba Alhaji Umaru, who was arrested in Bagudo Local Government Area after allegedly crossing into Nigeria from a neighbouring country with a locally fabricated pistol, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.
John Zweme received two years and six months’ imprisonment, with an option of a fine, while Aliyu Bako and Sani Alaramma were each sentenced to two years, with an option of a fine.
The convictions form part of the police command’s efforts to curb the circulation of illegal firearms, which can facilitate kidnapping, armed attacks and other violent crimes.
