A federal high court in Abuja has sentenced Auwalu Samaila, a Boko Haram member, to death by hanging for terrorism offences.
James Omotosho, the presiding judge, convicted Samaila after
he pleaded guilty to a six-count charge filed by the federal government against
him.
Delivering judgement on Thursday, the judge said the convict
showed no remorse despite the gravity of his actions.
“It is when somebody is remorseful and seek forgiveness with
God that he can have mercy from him,” the judge said.
“The convict before me is not remorseful despite a lot of
atrocities and lives that had gone from his hand.
“May God have mercy on his soul.”
Samaila, who hails from Gulak in the Madagali LGA of Adamawa
state, was accused of participating in multiple attacks between 2012 and 2017.
The charges included membership of a proscribed terrorist
group, receiving training in terrorist activities and weapons handling, and
involvement in attacks on communities in Borno and Adamawa states.
He was found to have taken part in attacks in Damboa, Borno,
as well as Gombi and Hong in Adamawa, where civilians and military personnel
were killed.
The offences are punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention
and Prohibition) Act.
The prosecution, led by Jemila Ade, deputy director of
public prosecutions, tendered Samaila’s confessional statement, which was
admitted in evidence.
In the statement, Samaila said he transported female suicide
bombers to target locations.
“I took her to Muna Garage in Maiduguri,” he said, referring
to one of the bombers.
He also admitted participating in attacks in Mubi, Chibok,
Damaturu, Michika, and Gulak.
According to him, he lost his left leg during a
confrontation with the military in Konduga.
Delivering the sentence, Omotosho ordered that Samaila be
hanged on counts four, five and six.
The court also sentenced him to 25 years’ imprisonment on
counts one and two and 30 years on count three.
In separate judgements, the court also sentenced two other
Boko Haram members — Shura Abdullahi and Abdulrahman Ari — to life imprisonment
after they pleaded guilty to terrorism charges.
Three others — Aisami Kadi, Umaru Usman, and Abdulrahman
Hassan — were handed prison terms ranging from 20 to 21 years.
On Tuesday, Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the
federation (AGF) and minister of justice, said 500 suspects are being
prosecuted in phase 9 of the mass trial of suspected terrorists in Abuja.
The defendants are standing trial before judges of the
federal high court.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com