By Vivian Okejeme
No fewer than 11 Boko Haram members were Thursday, sentence to various jail terms ranging from 60 to 40 years imprisonment by the federal high court, Abuja.
The convicts pleaded guilty to the charges as they confessed to the offences in open court as well as in their extra judicial statements with the military.
In his judgement, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ordered that the convicts are to be rehabilitated and de-radicalized after serving their various jail terms.
The sentence for the offences that contravenes Terrorism Prohibition and Prevention Act, will run concurrently starting from the date of their arrest and consequent detention.
The convicts are Musa Mustapha; Ali Mohammed; Babagana Ali; Abacha Abba; Ali Abbagana Umar; Kadi Agwala; Yahaya Umara; Alhaji Ari; Goni Mustapha; Ali Modu and Alhaji Fannaya.
The prosecution tried them on various count charges ranging to belonging to a proscribed organization known as the Boko Haram sect and rendering materials and logistics support to members of the group.
The court held that it is allowed to summarily convicts the defendants upon an admission of quilt and confessional statement without calling on the prosecution to prove his case.
In the case of Alhaji Fannaya, a Boko Haram member from Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, he was convicted and sentenced to 20 years on each of the four-count charge against him.
This was after he pleaded to four out of the five count charges.
Abacha Abba, a confessed Boko Haram member from Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno, was convicted and sentenced to 20 years on each of the three- count charges including conveying weapons to members of the sect and receiving training instructions on weapon handling.
Also, Ali Babagana Umar was convicted and sentenced to 20 years on each of the two-counts charges including rendering support to Boko Haram members.
Kadi Agwala of Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, was sentenced and convicted to 20 years on each of the two-counts for rendering support to members of Boko Haram.
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