Special Court: FG Secures 386 Terror Convictions in Boko Haram, ISWAP Mass Trials Across Abuja Courts

Special court sitting convicts suspects on terrorism-related charges, as government tightens counterinsurgency prosecution

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By Ndidi Okenyi | Abuja, Nigeria

The Federal Government says it has secured the conviction of 386 individuals linked to terrorism-related activities involving Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), following a coordinated mass trial conducted across multiple Federal High Court divisions in Abuja.

The development marks one of the largest terrorism-related conviction exercises in Nigeria’s recent judicial history.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, disclosed the figures at the conclusion of a four-day special court sitting held between Tuesday and Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

According to him, a total of 508 defendants were arraigned before ten courts over alleged involvement in terrorism financing, logistics support, concealment of intelligence, and membership of proscribed terrorist organisations.

The prosecution also alleged that some of the defendants provided material and logistical assistance to insurgent groups operating in Nigeria’s North-East region.

Following the proceedings, 386 defendants were convicted and handed varying sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of their offences.

Eight defendants were discharged, while two others were acquitted.

Continued Prosecution Phase Planned
Fagbemi further disclosed that 112 additional suspects, whose cases were not concluded during the current sitting, will be arraigned in the next phase of the mass trial scheduled for June 15 to 18, 2026.

He said the exercise demonstrates the government’s determination to sustain pressure on terror networks and dismantle their support structures.

According to him, the convictions send a strong signal that Nigeria remains intolerant of terrorism and related crimes.

Judiciary, Stakeholders Commended
The Attorney General commended the ten Federal High Court judges who presided over the special sittings, noting their commitment despite the holiday period.

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He also acknowledged the presence of oversight and observer institutions, including Amnesty International, the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Human Rights Commission Nigeria, and other civil society organisations that monitored proceedings to ensure compliance with due process and transparency.

The media was also commended for extensive coverage of the trials.

Notable Case — Former Politician Sentenced
In one of the cases, a former 2015 senatorial candidate in Borno State, Hon. Babagana Habeeb, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for selling petroleum products to members of Boko Haram.

The court heard that Habeeb, a fuel dealer in Maiduguri, admitted to supplying fuel to insurgents but claimed his station attendants may have been responsible.

He also pleaded for leniency, citing prolonged detention, family responsibilities, and lack of access to relatives during custody.

Court Ruling and Sentence Calculation
Justice Peter Lifu held that there was no evidence linking the convict directly to Boko Haram membership or weapons training, noting that the charge centred solely on the supply of petroleum products to insurgents.

The court further observed that the prosecution did not challenge claims of prolonged detention.

He consequently sentenced the defendant to 10 years imprisonment, ordering that the sentence be calculated from the date of arrest and detention.

The judge also directed that the convict be released upon completion of administrative formalities, enabling access to rehabilitation processes.

The mass convictions highlight an intensified phase in Nigeria’s counterterrorism prosecution strategy, combining large-scale trials with judicial collaboration.

Authorities say further proceedings are expected in the coming months as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terror support networks across the country.