A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted Muhammad Sani to 20 years jail for withholding information about a prominent bandit, Danranmi, a crime that caused the suspect to escape arrest. Courts & Judiciary
Justice Emeka Nwite on Monday found Sani guilty on counts one and two of the indictment brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS), The Nation reported.
Justice Nwite sentenced him to 20 years jail on each count without an option of a fine.
The judge ordered the sentence to run consecutively from the time of his arrest, January 11, 2023.
Sani was ordered by the court to serve his jail term at Kuje Prison, Abuja.
Sani, who hails from Nabi Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, was convicted of two terrorism-related offences under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Sani was detained and prosecuted by the DSS on a four-count charge of conspiracy, refusal to divulge information on a suspected terrorist and claimed involvement in the procurement of ammunition for criminal groups. Crime & Justice
The prosecution said Sani worked with Danranmi, who is still at large, to conceal the fact that the fugitive is a notorious bandit who supplies weaponry and ammunition to kidnappers and bandits operating in and around Niger State.
The prosecution further informed the court that Sani, without lawful authority, intentionally withheld information that may have helped security forces to arrest Danranmi, contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Other allegations were that Sani conspired with the fugitive to receive the sum of ₦580,000 to procure 150 rounds of ammunition from a source known as “Chairman” with reasonable cause to believe that the ammunition was to be utilised to aid terrorist activities.
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