Court sentences Boko Haram motorcycle repairer to 11 years in prison

A 50-year-old motorcycle repairer accused of providing services to Boko Haram members, Mustapha Modu, has been sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Modu, of Belle village in Danbura Local Government Area of Borno State, was sentenced by Justice Binta Fatima Nyako on Thursday after pleading guilty to withholding information that could have led to the arrest and prosecution of terrorists operating in the state.

The Federal Government had arraigned him on three counts bordering on membership of the proscribed Boko Haram sect, providing support to the group by repairing motorcycles, and deliberately withholding information about the terrorists’ activities from security agencies.

Although Modu denied being a member of the terrorist group, he admitted withholding information that could have led to the arrest of its members.

Following his guilty plea, the Federal Government’s lawyer, Muinat Oladunjoye, urged Justice Nyako to deliver a summary judgment.

Dauda Hassan, counsel to the convict, did not oppose the request but pleaded for a lenient sentence, arguing that his client was a victim of circumstances.

Hassan also drew the court’s attention to the fact that Modu had been in detention since 2016.

Before the sentence was pronounced, Modu assured the court that he would ensure his children received both Islamic and Western education after his ordeal.

In her judgment, Justice Nyako sentenced Modu to 11 years’ imprisonment, with the term to run from 2016, when he was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The judge directed the Federal Ministry of Interior to determine the correctional facility where Modu would serve his sentence.