Abuja, December 4, 2023: The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully secured the conviction of four individuals identified as Boko Haram financiers. The convicted individuals, Zana Zarama, Modu Aisami, Umar Mohammed, and Bunu Kame, received their prison terms on Monday after pleading guilty to charges brought against them during a special trial at the Federal High Court in Dawaki, Abuja.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, led the legal team representing the Federal Government, while the defense was headed by F. A. Bakre, the Director of the Criminal Justice Department at the Legal Aid Council (LAC).
Before Justices Binta Nyako and Emeka Nwite, the defendants pleaded for leniency after the charges were read. According to the charges filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. M. B. Abubakar, Aisami, one of the defendants, was accused of providing funds to the terrorist group by purchasing food products with the knowledge that the proceeds would be used for terrorist activities. The offense was deemed contrary to Section 13(1)(a)(ii) of the Terrorism Provision Amendment Act, 2013.
Justice Nyako, delivering her verdict after Aisami admitted guilt, convicted him on counts 2 and 3 of the charge. She sentenced him to 20 years of imprisonment for each offense, with the terms running concurrently. The convictions mark a significant step in the government’s efforts to combat terrorism and hold financiers accountable for supporting such activities.
