The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a self-confessed Boko Haram member, Abubakar Goni, to 30 years in prison for his involvement with the proscribed terrorist group.
Justice Binta Nyako handed down the sentence on Friday after Goni admitted knowingly joining Boko Haram more than 15 years ago.
Goni, a native of Daira village in Gubi Local Government Area of Yobe State, was prosecuted by the Federal Government on a five-count charge bordering on membership of the terrorist group, weapons training, attacks on civilians and looting food supplies for Boko Haram members.
He was also accused of participating in attacks on communities in the Niger Republic before operatives of the Department of State Services arrested him in 2016.
When the charges were read to him in court, Goni admitted being a member of Boko Haram but denied the other allegations.
Following his admission, Justice Nyako invoked Section 16(1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2013, to sentence him to 30 years’ imprisonment.
Before the sentence was delivered, defence counsel, Dauda Hassan, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, urging the judge to impose the minimum sentence.
Hassan argued that his client had voluntarily admitted the offence, saving the court the time and resources that would have been spent on a prolonged trial.
In granting the plea, the judge also considered Goni’s status as a first-time offender and ordered that his prison term should run from 2016, when he was arrested by the DSS and taken into detention.
Justice Nyako further directed the Federal Ministry of Interior to determine the correctional facility where Goni would serve his sentence.
