Court acquits 45-year-old woman accused of terrorism offence

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday discharged and acquitted a 45-year-old woman, Nkechi Dickson, of terrorism charge.

Nkechi, a native of Amuzu-zugwu village, Arochukwu Bendel Local Government Area of Abia, was said to have been arrested in 2020 over failure to disclose activities of a terrorist in her area.

Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, held that the prosecution failed to prove the charge against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

“The defendant (Nkechi Dickson) is hereby discharged and acquitted from the one count charge,” Justice Omotosho ruled.

Shortly after the judgement, the woman, who had been in detention since 2020, left the court in high spirit.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Federal Government, in the one-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/997/2026, had named Nkechi as sole defendant.

In the count, Nkechi was alleged to have, sometime in 2020 at Shabbath Synagugo Washipping, committed the offence.

She was accused of having “information about a terrorist who was wearing milk colour dressing in caftan and was shooting sporadically” in her area which she knew would have been of material assistance in securing his apprehension, prosecution or conviction.

She was alleged to have failed to disclose such information to any law enforcement or security officer as soon as reasonably practicable.

The offence is contrary to Section 8(1)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.