The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men linked to the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences.
Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled that the life sentences imposed on Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar, will take effect from the date of their arrest.
The three defendants, who were prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS), pleaded guilty to membership of a proscribed terrorist group and concealing information relating to the planning and execution of the school abduction.
The court heard that the suspects were standing trial on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping and concealment of information. Prosecutors also accused them of withholding intelligence on terrorist activities and using a messaging platform to facilitate terrorist training.
Only the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, pleaded guilty to additional charges of training and passing instructions to members of a terrorist group, as well as inciting members through a particular religious ideology.
During sentencing, defence counsel urged the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that the defendants were first-time offenders who had admitted guilt and shown remorse.
“They are married men with children and elderly parents who depend on them. We urge the court to give them a second chance at life by imposing liberal sentences,” the defence counsel told the court.
However, the prosecution opposed the plea for leniency, arguing that the convicts knowingly concealed information about terrorist activities instead of reporting it to security agencies.
The prosecution maintained that as Nigerian citizens, the defendants had a duty to disclose information about those involved in terrorist operations but failed to do so.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently sentenced the three men to life imprisonment, with the jail terms to commence from the date they were first taken into custody.
