The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, sentenced two women to 40 years imprisonment for their involvement in terrorism.
The convicted women, Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, are mother and sister respectively of a terrorist kingpin, Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo, who was eliminated by Nigerian security forces, on June 10, 2026, in a forest near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State,
Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa handed the sentences after both women pleaded guilty to Counts 2, 4 and 5 of the five-count terrorism-related charge brought against them by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
Both women escaped conviction on Counts 1 and 3, which bordered on receiving N490,300 from Battujo, fully aware it was proceeds of terrorism, as well as Count 3, which was on their sponsored holy pilgrimage with the proceeds of terrorism.
The Director of Public Prosecution, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, urged the court to strike out both counts, but convict them on the others.
According to Count 2, both women
“aided and abetted the activities of Battujo, a known bandit Kingpin and passed information through telephone conversations to the said Battujo, and thereby committed an
offence contrary to and punishable under section 26 of the terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
In addition to pleading guilty to Count 2, Battujo’s mum pleaded guilty to Count 5 which bordered on concealment of information on the terrorism activities of her son.
On her part, Halima, who is sister of the eliminated terrorist kingpin, in addition to pleading guilty to Count 2, also pleaded guilty to Count 4 which also bordered on concealment of information that her brother illegally acquired firearms which she saw when she visited his forest camp.
While the punishment for each of the Counts is 20 years, Justice Yilwa ordered that the sentences run concurrently, after which the convicts will undergo rehabilitation.
END
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