The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Sunday Frank to 40 years’ imprisonment after convicting him of supplying intelligence on security operatives to the late Benue militia leader, Terwase Akwaza, popularly known as Gana.
Justice Hawa Yilwa delivered the judgment on Thursday, October 22, 2026, after Frank, who hails from Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, pleaded guilty to one count of a four-count terrorism charge brought against him by the Federal Government.
Prosecutors alleged that Frank monitored the movements of security personnel and passed information to Gana, whose armed group operated in parts of Benue and Taraba states.
The charges were prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
Frank denied the first three counts, which concerned allegations of abduction, but pleaded guilty to the fourth count relating to his activities as an informant.
Following his plea, the Attorney-General applied for the three disputed counts to be struck out, a request granted by the court.
During proceedings, a prosecution witness identified only as AAA testified that Frank had admitted during investigations to supplying information about security operations to the late militia leader.
The witness also alleged that Frank confessed to participating in banditry and the abduction of two people. His written statement and the investigation report were admitted as evidence.
The prosecution had separately accused Frank of involvement in the abduction of a man identified as Samuel in 2022, during which ₦40,000 was allegedly paid as ransom. However, the kidnapping allegations were not the basis of his conviction after the relevant counts were struck out.
Addressing the court, Fagbemi described the offence of providing intelligence to armed groups as serious, warning that such activities could expose security personnel to attacks.
He urged the judge to impose a prison term of at least 30 years, noting that the applicable punishment ranged from a minimum of 20 years to life imprisonment.
Frank's defence lawyer, Y. Y. Shullai of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, did not oppose the prosecution's sentencing submissions.
In her judgment, Justice Yilwa convicted Frank on the fourth count and sentenced him to 40 years in prison, with the term calculated from the date of his arrest in 2022.
The court further ordered that he undergo a rehabilitation and deradicalisation programme after completing his sentence.
Gana, the militia leader to whom Frank admitted supplying intelligence, was killed during a military operation in September 2020. His death followed a controversial encounter with soldiers while he was travelling as part of an amnesty arrangement organised by the Benue State Government.
Frank's conviction forms part of ongoing federal court proceedings involving suspects accused of terrorism-related offences.
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