A Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced a man, one Sunday Frank, to 40 years in jail for providing intelligence to the late militia leader in Benue, Terwase Akwaza popularly known as Gana. In another judgement, a self-confessed member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Paul Okechukwu, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for membership of the proscribed group.
The penalties were handed down during the continuing trial of terror suspects before the court in proceedings brought by the Federal Government.
Frank from Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State was said to have watched the movement of security men and sent information to Gana in Benue and Taraba states.
Gana, who was slain by security personnel in September 2020, was identified in court proceedings as a militia leader associated with violent warfare in Benue state.
Frank also faced a four-count indictment for kidnapping a man named as Samuel in 2022 and keeping him until a ransom of ₦40,000 was paid for his release. The charges were preferred by the prosecution under sections 21 and 24 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
Frank contested the first three charges connected to the purported kidnapping but pleaded guilty to the fourth which related to supplying information to Gana. The prosecution asked that the other three counts be wiped out but the court convicted him on that count.
The case was personally prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi. During the proceedings, a prosecution witness, named only as “AAA” for his own protection, told the court that he had taken part in the investigation of the defendant.
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The witness stated that Frank provided both oral and written admissions wherein he admitted that he was an informer for Gana and offered information on the movement of security agents. The witness said Frank also confessed to being involved in banditry and kidnapping two individuals.
After the conviction, the court sentenced Frank to 40 years in jail. The court further ordered that Frank should undertake rehabilitation and deradicalisation when he is released from jail.
In a separate instance, Okechukwu was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to affiliation to IPOB, which the Nigerian government has proscribed.
The Federal Government said that Okechukwu, who is from Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was a member of the organization in 2021 while he was in Imo State.
He was also accused of participating in an incident that resulted in the deaths of two security personnel, pursuant to the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013. Okechukwu pleaded not guilty to that allegation but conceded the charge concerning his membership of the proscribed group.
He confessed the membership charge on which he was convicted and sentenced, but did not plead to the separate claim concerning the deaths of the security men.
The cases are among the Federal Government’s continuing mass trials for those alleged to have committed terrorism-related acts. The proceedings are part of wider moves by the authorities to punish those suspected of aiding armed groups and other organisations accused of violent actions.
The two judgements illustrate the severe prison sentences courts might impose for terrorism-related acts, but each defendant’s conviction must be read in the light of the precise count admitted or proven before the court.
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