The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, convicted four Boko Haram financiers, following their involvement in financing terrorists activities.
The convicts are Modu Aisami, Zana Zarama, Umar Mohammed and Bunu Kame.
The prosecuting Federal Government team led by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), secured the convictions of the financiers after their separate arraignments before Justice Binta Murtala Nyako and Justice Emeka Nwite.
When the charge was read to defendants, they pleaded guilty to the offence and begged the court for leniency.
The defence legal team was led by Director, Criminal Justice in Legal Aid Council (LAC), F A Bakre.
According to the charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M. B. Abubakar, Aisami provided funds for the terrorist group by buying food products from the group, having reasonable grounds to believe that the proceed will be used to commit a terrorist act therefore committed an offence contrary to Section 13(1)(a)(ii) of the Terrorism Provision Amendment Act, 2013.
Delivering her judgment in the matter, Justice Nyako convicted Aisami, having pleaded guilty to count 2 and 3 of the charges.
The judge then said, “I find him guilty as charged and he is convicted accordingly.
“I hereby sentence the convict to 20 years imprisonment for each of the offence. They are to run concurrently.”
The judge also convicted Zarama and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment for concealing the identity of a Boko Haram member, Modu Sulum.
Justice Nyako added that the jail terms should run from the day the convicts had been in custody.
In another trial, Justice Emeka Nwite convicted the duo of Umar Mohammed and Bunu Kame.
The judge also sentenced Mohammed to 10 years imprisonment.
