For the first time since the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Iid Da’awati wal
Jihad, commonly called Boko Haram started its campaign of violence in
2009, an Abuja High Court presided over by Judge Bilikisu Aminu
yesterday convicted five of its members for acts of terrorism. While the
four sect members were sentenced to life imprisonment, a fifth one was
lucky to bag only ten years jail sentence, while one Musa Adams was
freed.
Judge Bilkisu Aminu, in her judgment, convicted the five Boko Haram members on three of the five-count charge slammed against them by the Department of State Security (DSS). Those sentenced to life imprisonment include Shuaibu Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana-Umar, and Mohamed Ali; Umar Ibrahim bagged 10 years, while Musa Adam was freed for lack of evidence.
The six were arraigned in 2011 and charged with the April 8, 2011 bombing of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Suleja, Niger state, where 16 people died and several others were injured. They were also charged with the July 10, 2011 explosions at the All Christians Fellowship, Suleja, killing three and injuring others; the March 3, 2011 explosion at a political rally in Suleja, where three people died; and the May 23, 2011 explosion in Dakwa Village, Bwari, Abuja, killing three policemen. They were equally charged for engaging in illegal training in weapon handling and unlawful possession of weapons for the purpose of engaging in terrorism. The convicts were charged under Section 15(2) and (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act.
The judge however discharged the convicts on charges relating to the explosions at the All Christians Fellowship and the killing of policemen in Dakwa on the ground that the prosecution failed to provide convincing evidence to support the charges. In relation to the other charges, the judge held that the prosecution led sufficient evidence to prove the guilt of the convicts and freed Adam on the ground that the prosecution failed to link him with the offences.
In relation to the four sentenced to life imprisonment, the judge noted that they, “used explosives meant for blasting rocks for mining purposes, to kill human beings who had done nothing against them. “Human life is sacred. There is no human life that is more sacred than the other. The convicts have shown lack of respect for human life. They deserve to be removed from the society,” the judge held before pronouncing the sentence. In respect of Umar Ibrahim, who got 10 years jail term, the judge observed that by the evidence led by the prosecution, he merely served as errand boy for others, who engaged in the illegal weapons training. She held that Ibrahim was culpable for aiding the illegal trainees as he could have refused to run errand for them if he was not in support of their activities.
It would be recalled that in January this year, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, found Edmond Ebiwere, one of the four persons arraigned for the October 1, 2010 bomb attack in Abuja, guilty of terrorism charges. The court also sentenced him to life imprisonment. Mr. Ebiwere and three others, including Charles Okah, brother to Henry Okah, the alleged mastermind of the 50th Independent Anniversary bomb attack on October 1, 2010 at the Eagle Square Abuja, were arraigned for the crime. Two months after, a South African court also convicted Henry Okah for13 offences, including the setting off of two bombs in Abuja and Warri, Delta State, on October 1, 2010. He was also sentenced for threatening the South African government after his arrest.
Culled from
http://peoplesdailyng.com/1st-conviction-for-boko-haram/
Judge Bilkisu Aminu, in her judgment, convicted the five Boko Haram members on three of the five-count charge slammed against them by the Department of State Security (DSS). Those sentenced to life imprisonment include Shuaibu Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana-Umar, and Mohamed Ali; Umar Ibrahim bagged 10 years, while Musa Adam was freed for lack of evidence.
The six were arraigned in 2011 and charged with the April 8, 2011 bombing of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Suleja, Niger state, where 16 people died and several others were injured. They were also charged with the July 10, 2011 explosions at the All Christians Fellowship, Suleja, killing three and injuring others; the March 3, 2011 explosion at a political rally in Suleja, where three people died; and the May 23, 2011 explosion in Dakwa Village, Bwari, Abuja, killing three policemen. They were equally charged for engaging in illegal training in weapon handling and unlawful possession of weapons for the purpose of engaging in terrorism. The convicts were charged under Section 15(2) and (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act.
The judge however discharged the convicts on charges relating to the explosions at the All Christians Fellowship and the killing of policemen in Dakwa on the ground that the prosecution failed to provide convincing evidence to support the charges. In relation to the other charges, the judge held that the prosecution led sufficient evidence to prove the guilt of the convicts and freed Adam on the ground that the prosecution failed to link him with the offences.
In relation to the four sentenced to life imprisonment, the judge noted that they, “used explosives meant for blasting rocks for mining purposes, to kill human beings who had done nothing against them. “Human life is sacred. There is no human life that is more sacred than the other. The convicts have shown lack of respect for human life. They deserve to be removed from the society,” the judge held before pronouncing the sentence. In respect of Umar Ibrahim, who got 10 years jail term, the judge observed that by the evidence led by the prosecution, he merely served as errand boy for others, who engaged in the illegal weapons training. She held that Ibrahim was culpable for aiding the illegal trainees as he could have refused to run errand for them if he was not in support of their activities.
It would be recalled that in January this year, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, found Edmond Ebiwere, one of the four persons arraigned for the October 1, 2010 bomb attack in Abuja, guilty of terrorism charges. The court also sentenced him to life imprisonment. Mr. Ebiwere and three others, including Charles Okah, brother to Henry Okah, the alleged mastermind of the 50th Independent Anniversary bomb attack on October 1, 2010 at the Eagle Square Abuja, were arraigned for the crime. Two months after, a South African court also convicted Henry Okah for13 offences, including the setting off of two bombs in Abuja and Warri, Delta State, on October 1, 2010. He was also sentenced for threatening the South African government after his arrest.
Culled from
http://peoplesdailyng.com/1st-conviction-for-boko-haram/
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