By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday jailed five Boko Haram convicts for up to 20 years, as the Federal Government launched the ninth phase of its mass trial of 500 suspects, with judges giving up their Easter holiday to keep the process going.
Justice M. O. Olajuwon sent one Babagana Umar to DSS custody after he denied supplying spare parts and firewood to Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest in 2022, and failing to report the group’s activities to security agencies.
His case was adjourned to the next sitting.
Before the same judge, Yusuf Abacha was sentenced to 20 years after admitting to being a Boko Haram member, hiding information about a fellow member, and taking part in attacks.
“I hereby sentence him to 20 years imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently, and he is to be rehabilitated and de-radicalised after serving his term,” Justice Olajuwon ruled.
Four more convictions were recorded before Justice Binta Nyako.
Shehu Bukar got the heaviest sentence, 20 years, for supplying cattle and goats to Boko Haram.
The judge called his offence “so gruesome” and turned down appeals for a lighter sentence.
Isa Ali and Auwal Bello each got 10 years, Ali for providing logistical support, and Bello for handling terror funds, including exchanging about N750,000 and paying N20,000 to the group.
A fourth defendant also received 10 years for membership, material support, and managing funds linked to the group.
All convicts were ordered to undergo rehabilitation and de-radicalisation after serving their terms, with the Ministry of Interior to assign their correctional facilities.
Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi said 227 of the 500 suspects appeared in court on the first day, with 10 judges sitting at the same time to speed things up.
“Don’t forget this is an Easter period. Ordinarily, the judges are not supposed to be here… but they have been so patriotic and they have put their service to the nation,” he said, adding the phase should be done by Friday or Saturday.
The suspects are accused of involvement in attacks across northern Nigeria that killed more than 2,000 people, as well as financing terrorism and supplying arms, food, and other materials to the group.
Fagbemi said the trials were moved to Abuja for convenience and stressed they were being held openly.
“It is in the open. It’s not a secret trial. You will see where confessions are made, where proof is given. Everything is in the public glare,” he said, with observers from Amnesty International, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and the Nigerian Bar Association present.
Legal Aid Council Director-General Aliu Bagudu Abubakar said many suspects made the defence’s job easier by admitting to the charges, and confirmed that one or two were discharged and acquitted.
“For somebody who has been in detention for four, five years… to be acquitted, it shows that the trial has some level of transparency,” he said.
Security was tight around the court, with suspects brought in trucks under heavy guard by DSS, police, and army personnel. Trials continue on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.