An Abuja division of the Federal High Court has sentenced a member of Boko Haram, Auwalu Samaila, to death by hanging after he pleaded guilty to multiple terrorism-related offences.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution had established its case following the defendant’s guilty plea to a six-count charge filed by the Federal Government.
The court ruled that Samaila would face the death penalty on counts relating to his involvement in deadly attacks, while also imposing prison terms of 25 years each on two other counts and 30 years on another.
In his remarks, Justice Omotosho said the convict showed no sign of remorse despite the severity of his crimes. He added that remorse was a key consideration for mercy, which, in this case, was absent.
Court documents showed that Samaila, a native of Gulak in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, was active in Boko Haram operations between 2012 and 2017. He admitted to membership in the proscribed group and to receiving terrorist training, including weapons handling.
The prosecution told the court that the convict participated in a series of coordinated attacks across the North-East, including in Damboa (Borno State), and Gombi and Hong (Adamawa State), where civilians and security personnel were killed.
A confessional statement presented in evidence revealed that Samaila also transported female suicide bombers to designated targets. He recounted conveying one such bomber to Muna Garage in Maiduguri.
Further admissions linked him to attacks in Mubi, Chibok, Damaturu, Michika, and Gulak. He also told the court he lost his left leg during a confrontation with military forces in Konduga.
The charges were brought under the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013, which prescribes severe penalties for terrorism-related offences.
In separate rulings delivered the same day, the court also sentenced two other Boko Haram members, Shura Abdullahi and Abdulrahman Ari—to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to similar charges.
Three additional defendants, Aisami Kadi, Umaru Usman, and Abdulrahman Hassan were handed prison terms ranging from 20 to 21 years for their roles in terrorism activities.
The convictions are part of ongoing judicial efforts to address insurgency-related crimes and strengthen accountability in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
