A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced three convicted terrorists to death by hanging after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences in the ongoing mass trial of terrorism suspects being prosecuted by the Federal Government.

The convicts, Danladi Lawal, Abdullahi Mohammed and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu, were handed capital punishment by separate judges of the court following their guilty pleas.

Justice James Omotosho sentenced Lawal, also known as Dankawu, to death by hanging after he admitted guilt to a five-count terrorism charge brought against him by the Federal Government through the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

In addition to the death sentence, the judge imposed a 30-year prison term on the convict in count one, 15 years in count two, life imprisonment in count three and another life sentence in count five.

The court found that Lawal, a native of Maikaho village in Jibya Local Government Area of Katsina State, participated in the abduction and detention of an elderly man in 2020. The victim was reportedly held for four days in a forest hideout in Ilela while the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N950,000 from his family.

The court held that the act constituted terrorism under the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013, as it created fear and insecurity within the community.

Lawal was also convicted for receiving N450,000, part of the ransom proceeds generated from the kidnapping operation.

In a separate ruling, Justice Salim Ibrahim sentenced Abdullahi Mohammed and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu to death by hanging after both defendants pleaded guilty to terrorism charges filed against them by the Federal Government.

While Mohammed was convicted on a one-count charge, Shaibu pleaded guilty to a two-count charge. The court sentenced Shaibu to death on the first count and life imprisonment on the second count.

Justice Ibrahim also sentenced another defendant, Mohammed Sherife, to life imprisonment on three counts contained in a 10-count charge after he admitted guilt before the court.

In another case, Justice Omotosho sentenced Shamsudeen Muhammad Ibrahim, popularly known as Abu Harira, to life imprisonment on one count and 35 years’ imprisonment on another count related to terrorism offences.

The court found Ibrahim guilty of supporting the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) by receiving training and extremist teachings linked to terrorist activities. He was also convicted for failing to disclose information about the activities of ISWAP and Ansaru terrorists to security agencies despite having knowledge of their operations.

Meanwhile, Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced Lawi Abubakar Mohammed to 20 years imprisonment on each of two counts after he pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences.

The judge ordered that the sentences run consecutively from the date of the convict’s arrest, bringing the total prison term to 40 years.

Justice Nwite further directed that Mohammed undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation programmes upon completion of his sentence before being reintegrated into society.

The convictions form part of the ongoing terrorism trials being conducted by the Federal High Court in Abuja as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to prosecute individuals linked to terrorism, kidnapping and other violent extremist activities across the country.