Sh*cking Verdict: Court Orders Hanging Of Three Terrorists

The judgment was delivered during the ongoing mass trial of terrorism suspects at the court after the defendants pleaded guilty to charges brought against them by the Federal Government.

The convicts sentenced to death are Danladi Lawal, Abdullahi Mohammed, and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu.

Lawal, 33, also known as Dankawu, was sentenced by Justice James Omotosho after pleading guilty to a five-count charge. The court handed him 30 years’ imprisonment on count one, 15 years on count two, life imprisonment on count three, death by hanging on count four, and life imprisonment on count five.

“May God have mercy on you,” Justice Omotosho told him while delivering the judgment.

According to the charge marked FHC/KNJ/CR/956/2026, the Federal Government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), accused Lawal and others of abducting an elderly man in Maikaho village, Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, in 2020.

The victim was allegedly held for four days in a forest hideout in Ilela, while the kidnappers demanded a ₦950,000 ransom from his family.

The prosecution said the offence caused fear and insecurity in the community and was charged under the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013. Lawal was also said to have received ₦450,000 as part of the ransom proceeds.

In separate rulings, Justice Salim Ibrahim also sentenced Abdullahi Mohammed and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu to death by hanging after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges.

Mohammed pleaded guilty to a one-count charge, while Shaibu faced a two-count charge and received death by hanging on count one and life imprisonment on count two.

Justice Ibrahim also sentenced Mohammed Dezami Sherife to life imprisonment on counts two, six, and eight of a 10-count charge after he admitted guilt.

In another case, Justice Omotosho sentenced Shamsudeen Muhammad Ibrahim, also known as Abu Harira, to life imprisonment on one count and 35 years on another for supporting ISWAP activities.

He was also found guilty of failing to report the activities of ISWAP and Ansaru to security agencies.

Meanwhile, Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced Lawi Abubakar Mohammed to 20 years’ imprisonment on each of two counts, to run consecutively, totaling 40 years. The court also ordered that he undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation after completing his sentence before reintegration into society.