Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three convicted terrorists to death by hanging, marking the latest judicial victory in the Federal Government's ongoing mass prosecution of terrorism suspects, with the three men pleading guilty to charges ranging from kidnapping for ransom to receiving proceeds of terrorism.
Delivering separate judgments on Thursday, June 18, 2026, Justices James Omotosho and Salim Ibrahim handed down capital punishment to the convicts after they admitted guilt to the offences levelled against them by the Federal Government in the ongoing mass terrorism trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The three convicts sentenced to death are Danladi Lawal, 33, also known as "Dankawu"; Abdullahi Mohammed; and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu. While Lawal was sentenced by Justice Omotosho, Mohammed and Shaibu were handed capital punishment by Justice Ibrahim.
Lawal, a native of Maikaho Village in Jibya Local Government Area of Katsina State, pleaded guilty to a five-count charge marked FHC/KNJ/CR/956/2026, filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. The court heard that Lawal and others, now at large, unlawfully abducted and detained an elderly man for four days in a bush hideout at Ilela in 2020, demanding a ransom of N950,000 from his family. The offence caused serious fear and insecurity in the community and was prosecuted under Section 1(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act 2013. Lawal was also found guilty of receiving N450,000 as part of the ransom proceeds, an offence contrary to Section 13 of the same Act.
Justice Omotosho sentenced Lawal to 30 years' imprisonment on count one, 15 years on count two, life imprisonment on count three, death by hanging on count four, and life imprisonment on count five. As the sentence was delivered, the judge told the convict: "May God have mercy on you".
In separate proceedings, Justice Salim Ibrahim sentenced Abdullahi Mohammed and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu to death by hanging after they pleaded guilty to separate terrorism charges. Mohammed pleaded guilty to a one-count charge in suit number FHC/KNJ/CR/245/2026, while Shaibu admitted guilt to a two-count charge in suit number FHC/KNJ/CR/329/2026, receiving death on the first count and life imprisonment on the second.
In related judgments, Justice Ibrahim also sentenced Mohammed Dezami Sherife to life imprisonment on three counts of a 10-count charge after he pleaded guilty. Justice Omotosho sentenced Shamsudeen Muhammad Ibrahim, also known as Abu Harira, to life imprisonment for supporting the terrorist group ISWAP by receiving training and extremist sermons, and an additional 35-year prison term for failing to disclose information about the activities of ISWAP and Ansaru to security agencies. Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced Lawi Abubakar Mohammed to 20 years' imprisonment on each of two counts, to run consecutively for a total of 40 years, with a directive for rehabilitation and deradicalisation upon completion of his sentence.
Legal experts described the judgments as part of the Federal Government's sustained efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and strengthen national security through judicial prosecution.
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