A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Hussaini Ismaila, a senior figure in the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), to 20 years imprisonment for terrorism-related offences.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Wednesday after Ismaila, also known as Mai Tangaran, pleaded guilty to a four-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Concurrent Sentences
Justice Nwite imposed 15 years on the first count and 20 years each on counts two, three and four. The sentences will run concurrently, effective from August 31, 2017, the date of Ismaila’s arrest.
The court further directed the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service to hold the convict in any facility of his choosing until the completion of his term.
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Justice Nwite also ordered that Ismaila undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation before his reintegration into society at the end of his sentence.
Role in Kano Attacks
According to the prosecution, Ismaila coordinated a series of 2012 attacks in Kano State, including assaults on the Police Headquarters in Bompai, the Mobile Police Base on Kabuga Road, the Farm Centre Police Station, and the Angwa Uku Police Station. Several people were killed or injured in the incidents.
He was arrested on August 31, 2017, at Tsamiyya Babba village in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State and charged under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.
Trial History
The case experienced delays due to interlocutory appeals, and a trial-within-trial was initiated to determine the voluntariness of the defendant’s statements.
When proceedings resumed, the prosecution called five witnesses, including two DSS operatives and two eyewitnesses to the attacks. After the fifth witness testified, Ismaila, who had earlier pleaded not guilty, changed his plea to guilty.
Defence Pleads for Leniency
Defence counsel, P. B. Onijah of the Legal Aid Council, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that Ismaila was remorseful and opted to change his plea to avoid wasting the court’s time.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
