2014 Nyanya bomb blast: Court sentences 37-year old to death

The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced a 37-year-old man, Zakaria Garba, to death by hanging over his involvement in the 2014 Nyanya Motor Park bomb explosions that killed no fewer than 70 persons while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries. 

Justice James Omotsoho of the FHC delivered the judgment in the just-concluded mass trial of suspected terrorists held in Abuja.

He also handed down a life imprisonment for Garba in another count of the five-count charge. 

Justice Omotosho convicted the defendant after he pleaded guilty to the five counts preferred against him by the Federal Government. 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judgement was delivered on Tuesday in the charge number: FHC/KNJ/CR/985/2026, filed by the office of the Attorney-General of three Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice. 

The judge sentenced Garba to a 35-year jail term each in counts one and two, a life imprisonment in count three, and a death sentence in counts four and five. 

“May God have mercy on you,” the judge said. 

NAN observed that in count three, which attracted a life imprisonment, Garba of Jambutu Park, Jimeta Local Government Area of Adamawa State, and others now at large were alleged to have sometime in 2014 while at the Nyanya Motor Park, FCT Abuja within the jurisdiction of the court committed the offence. 

They were said to have knowingly conspired among themselves “to commit acts of terrorism by planning and coordinating the bombing of Nyanya Motor Park, Abuja through the use of explosives devices, which bombing resulted in the death of over 70 persons and injured several others:.

The offence is punishable under Section 17 of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013 and punishable under same Section of the Act. 

In count four, which also attracted capital punishment, the terrorist, who stated in his confessional statement that he used to sell tea and bread, with others now at large, were said to have sometime in 2014 while at the Nyanya Motor Park, FCT Abuja committed the offence. 

They were said to have “knowingly and intentionally caused the detonation of explosives devices at Nyanya Motor Park with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm to members of the public, which act resulted in over 70 (Seventy) persons’ death and injuries to several others”.

The offence is punishable under Section 1(3) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013. 

Also in count five, which attracted death penalty, the convict and others now at large were said to have, sometime in 2014 while at the Nyanya Motor Park, FCT Abuja “participated in an act of terrorism which caused the death of over 70 (Seventy) persons by detonating explosives”.

According to the charge: “You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(3) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013. “

Justice Omotosho also handed down various prison terms to some other terrorists who pleaded guilty to the separate terrorism charges filed against them.

Ali Mohammed, in charge number: FHC/KNJ/CR/1020/2026, was committed to a 25-year jail term in count one and 15-year imprisonment in count two. 

Isa Saleh was sentenced to a 20-year imprisonment in a one-count charge marked: FHC/KNJ/CR/973/2026.

Tujan Mohammed, in a charge marked: FHC/KNJ/CR/954/2026, also bagged a 20-year jail term in the one count preferred against him by the Federal Government. 

For Salisu Bala, the judge convicted and sentenced him to a 20-year imprisonment in count two but discharged and acquitted him in counts one and three in the charge marked: FHC/KNJ/CR/963/2026.

NAN reports that the trial, which usually takes place at Kainji in Niger State, was moved to the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who led the Federal Government’s team of lawyers for the prosecution, said the government was determined to stamp out terrorism and its related activities from the country. 

According to the minister: “We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody.”