The Federal Government has resumed the fourth phase of its mass terrorism prosecution programme, arraigning over 600 terrorism suspects at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The trials, which began on Monday under heavy security, are being conducted simultaneously in 11 courtrooms and will run until Thursday.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said 490 suspects were arraigned on the first day, while 84 more are expected to appear in court today. He added that the total figure exceeds 600 when 102 cases carried over from a previous phase are included.
Fagbemi disclosed that convictions were already secured on the opening day of proceedings, stressing that the administration remains committed to combating terrorism. According to him, 10 judges have been assigned exclusively to handle terrorism cases to ensure speedy trials while maintaining due process.
One of the convictions involved Bello Liman, also known as “Alhaji Bello Doctor,” who was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment by Justice Emeka Nwite after pleading guilty to concealing information about a Boko Haram commander and serving as the terrorist leader’s personal physician. The court also ordered his rehabilitation and deradicalisation while in custody.
Justice Binta Nyako sentenced Maiduguri businessman Umar Bashir to 20 years imprisonment for terrorism financing after he admitted receiving and transferring N5 million on behalf of a Boko Haram member in exchange for a commission. The sentence was backdated to the year of his arrest.
The court also convicted Ali Mustapha, a 55-year-old farmer from Borno State, sentencing him to 15 years imprisonment for concealing information about Boko Haram activities in his community. His sentence was backdated to 2013, when he was first arrested.
In a separate case, Justice Nyako sentenced Isa Isiaka, a father of 11, to 20 years imprisonment for failing to report Boko Haram activities. The convictions form part of the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability and intensify the fight against terrorism across the country.
