Court Convicts Two Ansaru Commanders, Imposes Life Sentence for Terrorism, Terrorism Financing and Related Offences

The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Monday convicted and sentenced two commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated organisation, to life imprisonment.

The duo pleaded guilty to terrorism charges filed against them by the Department of State Services on behalf of the Federal Government.

The convicts, Mahmud Usman, also known as Isah Adam, and Abubakar Abba, alias Abu Bara, were convicted by Justice Emeka Nwite after admitting guilt to a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism, terrorism financing and related offences.

Justice Nwite sentenced both men to life imprisonment on counts 30 and 31 of the charge.

He also imposed 20 years’ imprisonment on each of the remaining counts and ordered that the jail terms should run from the dates of their arrest.

The DSS arrested the two men in separate operations between May and July 2025.

The charges against them included terrorism, terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining to fund terrorism, fabrication of improvised explosive devices, and other related offences.

The Federal Government also accused the convicts of coordinating sleeper cells, carrying out attacks and maintaining operational links with terrorist groups across the Sahel and Maghreb regions.

Court records showed that Usman had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of illegal mining for the purpose of financing terrorism and procuring arms.

He was subsequently sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment on that count while initially pleading not guilty to the remaining 31 counts.

Abba had also initially pleaded not guilty to all 32 counts.

‎The case stalled the last time the matter came up on July 9 as the 2nd defendant Abba expressed willingness first to change his plea to admit guilt but later expressed reservations about taking that road.
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‎They both eventually admitted guilt on all counts with a sentence of life behind bars being the consequence.

However, the Department of State Services (DSS) is set to appeal the life sentences imposed on two senior commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group by a Federal High Court in Abuja, insisting that the punishment does not adequately reflect the gravity of their alleged crimes.

A senior DSS official said the Service considered the sentences too lenient and would challenge the judgment on appeal in pursuit of the maximum penalty.

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