The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced two women linked to terrorism related activities to 40 years imprisonment.
The convicts, Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, are the mother and sister respectively of late terrorist kingpin Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo, who was killed by Nigerian security forces on June 10, 2026, in a forest near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa delivered the judgment after both women pleaded guilty to Counts 2, 4 and 5 of a five count terrorism related charge filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
The two defendants were discharged on Counts 1 and 3, which involved allegations of receiving N490,300 from Battujo while knowing it was proceeds of terrorism, as well as receiving sponsorship for a religious pilgrimage allegedly funded with terrorism proceeds.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, urged the court to strike out both counts while seeking conviction on the remaining charges.
According to Count 2, both women “aided and abetted the activities of Battujo, a known bandit kingpin, and passed information through telephone conversations to the said Battujo, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
In addition to pleading guilty to Count 2, Battujo’s mother also pleaded guilty to Count 5, which involved concealing information regarding her son’s terrorism related activities.
Battujo’s sister, alongside Count 2, pleaded guilty to Count 4, which involved concealing information that her brother had illegally acquired firearms, which she reportedly saw during a visit to his forest camp.
Although each count carries a sentence of 20 years, Justice Yilwa ruled that the sentences would run concurrently, after which both convicts will undergo rehabilitation.
