The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three terrorists to death by hanging for terrorism offences, while two others received life imprisonment, as the “Abuja model” trial of terrorism cases continues.
The convicts pleaded guilty to the charges filed by the Federal Government through the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
–Danladi Lawal sentenced to death by hanging–
When the case came up before Justice James Omotosho on Thursday, 33-year-old Danladi Lawal, also known as Dankawu, pleaded guilty to all five counts against him.
Justice Omotosho sentenced him to: 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,” the judge said.
In the charge marked FHC/KNJ/CR/956/2026, Lawal, from Maikaho village, Jibia LGA of Katsina State, and others still at large were accused of abducting and detaining an elderly man for four days in a bush hideout at Ilela in 2020.
They allegedly demanded N950,000 ransom from his family, an act said to have intimidated the public and caused fear in the community.
Count four, which attracted the death penalty, is contrary to Section 1(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section.
In count five, Lawal was convicted for knowingly receiving N450,000 being part of the ransom proceeds from the kidnapping. That offence is contrary to Section 13 of the same Act and carries life imprisonment.
–Abdullahi Mohammed, Gulama Shaibu also condemned to death–
Justice Salim Ibrahim separately sentenced Abdullahi Mohammed and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu to death by hanging after they pleaded guilty.
In charge FHC/KNJ/CR/245/2026, Mohammed pleaded guilty to a one-count charge. In charge FHC/KNJ/CR/329/2026, Shaibu pleaded guilty to a two-count charge and was sentenced to death on count one and life imprisonment on count two.
The judge also sentenced Mohammed Dezami Sherife, in charge FHC/KNJ/CR/1248/2026, to life imprisonment on counts two, six and eight of a 10-count charge after he pleaded guilty.
—Shamsudeen Ibrahim bags life, 35 years–
Justice Omotosho also sentenced Shamsudeen Muhammad Ibrahim, alias Abu Harira, to life imprisonment on count one and 35 years on count two, to run from June 18, 2026.
Ibrahim of Angwar Hayin Ikara Maje, Ikara LGA, Kaduna State, was convicted for knowingly rendering support to ISWAP in 2022 by receiving training and sermons from an Al-Qaeda affiliate, A. Mujahid, on promoting terrorist activities. That is contrary to Section 15(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
On count two, he was found guilty of failing to disclose information about ISWAP/Ansaru activities to security agencies as soon as reasonably practicable, contrary to Section 16 of the same Act.
–Lawi Abubakar gets 40 years–
In a related ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced Lawi Abubakar Mohammed to 20 years each on counts one and two, which he pleaded guilty to. The judge ordered the terms to run consecutively from the date of arrest, totaling 40 years.
He also ordered that at the end of his jail term, the convict must undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation before release into society.
