The Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Auwalu Samaila, a Boko Haram terrorist, to death by hanging on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to six counts of terrorism-related offences. Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment, noting the convict's lack of remorse. The court also sentenced other Boko Haram suspects to life imprisonment and various jail terms.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, convicted Auwalu Samaila on Thursday. Samaila, from Gulak Village in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa, pleaded guilty to charges marked FHC/KNJ/CR/122/2026.
The charges included membership in Boko Haram between 2012 and 2017, receiving training in terrorist activities and weapon handling with an AK47, and participating in attacks in Damboa in Borno, Gombi and Hong in Adamawa, where civilians and military personnel were killed. The offences violated Section 1(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
In his confessional statement, admitted as evidence by prosecutor Jemila Ade, Samaila admitted conveying female suicide bombers, including Halima to Muna Garage in Maiduguri, and taking part in attacks in Mubi, Chibok, Damaturu, Michika and Gulak. He said he lost his left leg in a Konduga operation against the military.
Justice Omotosho sentenced Samaila to death by hanging on counts four, five and six, 25 years imprisonment each on counts one and two, and 30 years on count three. "It is when somebody is remorseful and seeks 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.
In separate judgments, the court sentenced Shura Abdullahi and Abdulrahman Ari to life imprisonment, and Aisami Kadi, Umaru Usman and Abdulrahman Hassan to 20 to 21 years.
