An Abuja Federal High Court has sentenced two men linked to terrorism to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
The convicts, Abubakar Abba, also known as Abu Bara and identified as a commander of the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group Ansaru, and his co-accused, Mahmud Usman (alias Isah Adam/Mahmud), were prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Monday, sentencing both men to life imprisonment on counts related to terrorism. They also received 20-year prison terms on several other charges, which are to run from the date of their arrest.
The pair had faced a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism, terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, and the production of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Authorities said they were involved in coordinating sleeper cells and maintaining links with extremist networks across the Sahel and Maghreb regions.
Investigations revealed that the suspects were arrested in separate DSS operations between May and July 2025.
In a related development, Usman had earlier pleaded guilty to a separate count of illegal mining used to fund terrorism and arms procurement, for which he received a 15-year sentence.
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