The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced a Boko Haram member, Alkali Yarima, also known as La’ari, to death by hanging for participating in the attacks on Maiduguri in Borno in 2015.
Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, also sentenced Yarima to a life imprisonment in count six of the charge which bordered on receiving a training on arms and weapon handling in preparation to commit acts of terrorism.
While the convict was committed to a 35-year imprisonment in count one, Justice Omotosho sentenced him to a 30-year jail term in count five.
The judge, thereafter, handed down a 10-year imprisonment for Yarima in each of counts two, three and four of the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that though the judgment was delivered during the just-concluded Abuja mass trial of suspected terrorists, details of the verdict was sighted on Friday in Abuja.
The Federal Government had, in the charge marked: FHC/KNJ/CR/971/2026, preferred a seven-count charge against the convict.
The charge was dated May 26 and filed on May 29 by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation.
In count one which attracted 35 years’ jail term, Yarima (aka La’ari), with Chest Number: 1636 of Lawanti Area of Mafa Local Government Area in Borno was alleged to have, sometime between 2009 to 2015 at the time of his arrest, professed membership and continued to belong to Boko Haram group, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
He was accused of accepting “Da’awah from Mohammed Yusuf (founder of Boko Haram).”
The offence is punishable under Section 16 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
In count six, where he bagged a life imprisonment, the convict was alleged to have “engaged in conducts in preparation to commit acts of terrorist acts when you travelled to Arab country for training on arms and weapon handling.”
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 21 of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
The Federal Government, in count seven which attracted a death penalty, accused the terrorist of committing acts of terrorism when he participated in the attacks on Maiduguri.
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 2 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
NAN reports that the trial, which usually takes place at Kainji in Niger, was moved to the the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja.
The AGF, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the Federal Government’s team of lawyer for the prosecution, said the government was determined to stamp out terrorism and its related activities from the country.
According to the minister, we will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody.