A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a Boko Haram member, Auwalu Samaila, to death by hanging after he pleaded guilty to multiple terrorism charges including attacks across Adamawa and Borno states.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced a Boko Haram member, Auwalu Samaila, to death by hanging after he pleaded guilty to multiple terrorism-related charges filed by the Federal Government.
Justice James Omotosho convicted and sentenced Samaila after he admitted to six counts bordering on terrorism, participation in attacks, and support for a proscribed terrorist organisation.
“It is when somebody is remorseful and seek forgiveness with God that he can have mercy from him. The convict before me is not remorseful despite a lot of atrocities and lives that had gone from his hand. May God have mercy on his soul,” the judge said.
The Federal Government, in the charge marked FHC/KNJ/CR/122/2026, listed Samaila as the sole defendant and accused him of terrorism offences under the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
According to the charges, Samaila, who hails from Gulak Village in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, confessed to being a member of Boko Haram between 2012 and 2017. He was also accused of receiving terrorist training from a Boko Haram member identified as Sadiqu Adamu (Kare-kare), including weapons handling with an AK-47 under a camp leader known as Yabana.
The prosecution further alleged that Samaila participated in attacks in Damboa in Borno State, as well as Gombi and Hong in Adamawa State, where civilians and security personnel were killed.
Led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in the Ministry of Justice, Jemila Ade, the prosecution tendered Samaila’s confessional statement, which was admitted as evidence.
In the statement, Samaila admitted transporting female suicide bombers to designated targets, including conveying one identified as Halima to Muna Garage in Maiduguri. He also confessed to participating in attacks in Mubi, Chibok, Damaturu, Michika, and Gulak.
He further told the court that he lost his left leg during a confrontation with military troops in Konduga and was later treated by a medical team before the amputation.
Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho sentenced Samaila to death by hanging on counts four, five, and six. He was also handed 25 years imprisonment each on counts one and two, and 30 years imprisonment on count three.
In separate judgments delivered the same day, the court also convicted and sentenced two other Boko Haram members, Shura Abdullahi and Abdulrahman Ari, to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism charges.
The judge additionally sentenced Aisami Kadi, Umaru Usman, and Abdulrahman Hassan, who also admitted guilt, to various prison terms ranging between 20 and 21 years.
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