Court Jails Ansaru Commander for Life Over Terrorism, Financing Offences

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Abubakar Abba, an alleged commander of the Al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru terrorist group, to life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Monday, convicting Abba, also known as Abu Bara, alongside his co-defendant, Mahmud Usman, also identified as Isah Adam/Mahmud, following their guilty pleas to a 32-count charge filed by the DSS on behalf of the Federal Government.

The court sentenced both defendants to life imprisonment on counts 30 and 31, while imposing 20-year prison terms on each of the remaining counts.

Justice Nwite ordered that the sentences on the other counts should run from the date of their arrest, effectively recognising the period they have already spent in custody.

According to the prosecution, DSS operatives arrested the two suspects in separate operations conducted between May and July 2025.

The defendants faced multiple charges bordering on terrorism and related offences, including, terrorism and terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining to generate funds, fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and coordination of sleeper cells and terrorist attacks.

The prosecution also alleged that both men maintained links with terrorist networks operating across the Sahel-Maghreb region, strengthening the case presented before the court.

Before the conclusion of the terrorism trial, Mahmud Usman had separately pleaded guilty to one count of illegal mining, which prosecutors said was carried out to finance terrorist activities and procure arms.

Justice Nwite convicted him on that charge and sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment.

The latest convictions represent another prosecution secured by the DSS in its ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist financing networks and prosecute individuals accused of supporting insurgent activities in Nigeria.