A Federal High Court sitting in Dawaki, Abuja has convicted four Boko Haram financiers. Daily Trust reports.
The federal government on Monday arraigned Modu Aisami, Zana Zarama, Umar Mohammed and Bunu Kame.
The prosecution led by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), secured their convictions after their separate arraignments before Justices Binta Nyako and Emeka Nwite.
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for leniency.
The defence counsel was led by the Director of Criminal Justice in Legal Aid Council (LAC), F. A. Bakre.
According to the charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPP), M. B. Abubakar, Aisami provided funds for the terrorist group by buying food products from the group, having reasonable grounds to believe that the proceeds 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.
In her ruling, Justice Nyako convicted the defendant having pleaded guilty to counts 2 and 3 of the charges.
“I find him guilty as charged and he is convicted accordingly.
“I hereby sentence the convict to 20 years imprisonment for each of the offences. They are to run concurrently,” she held.
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.
Justice Nwite, in another trial, convicted the duo of Umar Mohammed and Bunu Kame.
Mohammed was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
