COURT OF APPEAL AFFIRMS SENTENCE OF 25 YEARS EACH FOR BOKO HARAM CONVICTS

COURT OF APPEAL AFFIRMS SENTENCE OF 25 YEARS EACH FOR BOKO HARAM CONVICTS

The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos affirmed the Judgment of Hon. Justice Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos delivered on 30th September, 2014, which convicted and sentenced the Appellants to 25 years imprisonment each.

The Lagos State Ministry of Justice had earlier filed charges against 4 Accused persons for conspiracy to commit a felony, to wit, acts of terrorism, concealing information about acts of terrorism and having possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition contrary to sections under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013 and the Firearms Act, Cap F.28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Hon. Justice Buba on the 30th of September, 2016 convicted and sentenced 3 of the accused persons to 25 years imprisonment each while the 4th accused was discharged and acquitted.

The Appellants (Ali Mohammed Modu, Adamu Ali Karumi and Ibrahim Usman Ali) being dissatisfied with the judgment of Buba J filed their respective appeals to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that they were charged under inapplicable laws, the 25 years terms of imprisonment were excessive and the conviction of one of the Appellants (Ibrahim Usman Ali) was inadvertently convicted and sentenced for a count with which he was not charged.

While the Court of Appeal agreed that one of the Appellants was wrongly convicted under a count with which he was not charged, they affirmed the Judgment of Buba J. which convicted and sentenced the 3 Appellants to 25 years imprisonment each.