44 Convicted For Terrorism Financing

Forty-four out of 54 suspects standing trials in the Phase 7 Trial of Terrorism Suspects at the Kainji Detention Facility in Niger State, have been convicted for terrorism financing.

Head of Strategic Communication at the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), Abu Michael, announced this in a statement on Friday.

The suspects were arraigned on Wednesday as part of ongoing terrorism trials.

According to Michael, the remaining 10 cases were adjourned during proceedings held across four courts, presided over by four Federal High Court justices.

He said: “The verdicts delivered from the trials resulted in prison sentences ranging from 10 to 30 years, all to be served with hard labour, underscoring the severity of the crimes and the Nigerian justice system’s resolve to uphold accountability and deter future transgressions.”

The Nation reports that during the flag-off of the trials on Wednesday, the National Coordinator of NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Garba Laka, emphasised that the trials represent Nigeria’s unwavering pursuit of justice and reaffirm its resolve to confront terrorism through lawful and transparent means.

During the Phase 6 trials, 237 cases were heard, resulting in 200 convictions. The convicted terrorists received a range of sentences based on the severity of their crimes, from the death penalty and life imprisonment to prison terms of 20 to 70 years.

Their offences included heinous acts such as attacks on women and children, destruction of religious centres, killing of civilians, and the abduction of women and children during a brutal assault on the Gina Kara Kai community in Borno State.

With the latest convictions, the Federal Government has now secured a total of 785 cases involving terrorism financing and other terrorism-related offences, reflecting the country’s renewed effort to combat violent extremism, dismantle funding networks, and strengthen national security through judicial enforcement.