Self-confessed Boko Haram member jailed for 30 years

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced self-confessed Boko Haram member Abubakar Goni to 30 years imprisonment following his conviction on terrorism charges.

Goni, an indigene of Daira village in Yobe State, was convicted by Justice Binta Nyako on Friday after admitting to knowingly joining the proscribed terrorist organization over 15 years ago.

The Federal Government prosecuted Goni on a five-count charge bordering on membership in a terrorist group, receiving weapons training with AK-47 assault rifles, launching attacks against civilians, looting food supplies to sustain insurgents, and executing cross-border raids in neighboring Niger Republic.

During the arraignment, Goni pleaded guilty to membership in the terrorist organization while denying the remaining counts.Following the plea, Justice Nyako invoked Section 16(1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act to pass sentence.

Defense counsel Dauda Hassan urged the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that his client was a first-time offender who voluntarily admitted guilt to avoid prolonged litigation.

Justice Nyako ruled that the 30-year sentence be backdated to 2016, when Goni was initially arrested and remanded in custody by the Department of State Services. The court further directed the Federal Ministry of Interior to determine the appropriate correctional facility for his incarceration.