Court sentences man to 40 years imprisonment for spying for late infamous Benue militia chief, Gana

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, sentenced Sunday Frank to 40 years imprisonment after he pleaded responsible to spying for the late infamous Benue militia chief, Terwase Akwanza, popularly generally known as Gana.

Justice Hawa Yilwa convicted Frank, who hails from Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, on rely 4 of a four-count cost introduced by the federal authorities below the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act (TPPA) 2022. The sentence runs from the day of his arrest.

The courtroom additionally ordered that, on finishing his jail time period, the convict bear a rehabilitation and deradicalisation programme.

The federal authorities alleged that Frank monitored the motion of safety brokers and handed the data to Gana, together with his protection spanning Benue and Taraba states.

He was additionally accused of kidnapping one Samuel in 2022 and holding him hostage till N40,000 was paid for his launch.

The offences have been alleged to be opposite to sections 21 and 24 of the TPPA 2022. The cost was personally prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

Frank denied counts 1, 2 and three, which associated to the alleged abduction, however pleaded responsible to rely 4, which associated to offering data to the bandit chief. Following the plea, the AGF utilized for the three denied counts to be struck out, and the courtroom granted the request.

The prosecution referred to as a witness who was a part of the workforce that investigated Frank. Identified solely as ” AAA” after the courtroom allowed the federal authorities to protect his id, he reviewed the details of the case.

He informed the courtroom that Frank, who was arrested in 2022, confessed orally and in writing to being a bandit and an informant to Gana.

According to the witness, Frank admitted that, moreover giving Gana updates on the motion of safety brokers, he participated in banditry and within the abduction of two individuals.

The defence counsel, Mr Y. Y. Shullai, didn’t oppose the prosecution’s utility to tender Frank’s assertion in proof. Justice Yilwa admitted it as Exhibit A. The investigation report filed by the witness’s workforce was tendered and admitted as Exhibit B.

Citing the confession and the reveals, the AGF urged the courtroom to convict Frank on rely 4. He described the offence as very severe, noting that the legislation prescribes a minimal of 20 years’ imprisonment and a most of life.

He requested for a sentence of not lower than 30 years, warning: “If it is not nipped in the bud, a whole generation of our security operatives can be wiped out by people like this providing information about their movement.”

The AGF additionally drew the courtroom’s consideration to the truth that rely 4 associated to part 13 of the TPPA.

Shullai, who’s from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACoN), mentioned he didn’t oppose the AGF’s submissions.

Gana reportedly started as a part of a militia group defending Benue communities in opposition to assaults by suspected herdsmen. He later turned a infamous militia chief.

He was neutralizsed on 8 September 2020, throughout a army operation by the Nigerian Army.

Before his passing, Gana had surrendered and embraced a second amnesty programme supplied by the Benue State authorities in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, within the presence of conventional rulers, clerics and native authorities officers.

He was travelling in a government-backed convoy with different repentant militia members and officers to Makurdi, the state capital, the place then Governor Samuel Ortom was to obtain them.

Troops of the 4 Special Forces Command (Operation Ayem Akpatuma III) intercepted the convoy at a roadblock alongside the Gbese–Gboko–Makurdi highway.

The Commander of the 4 Special Forces Command, Brigadier General Maude Ali Gadzama, mentioned the troops acted on strategic intelligence. According to the army, troopers engaged Gana’s group in a shootout after the militia members opened fireplace or resisted. Gana was killed within the firefight and about 40 gang members have been captured.

Former Governor Ortom, together with area people leaders and politicians, disputed the army’s account.

They maintained that Gana was surrendering peacefully, and that troopers forcibly dragged the unarmed militia chief out of the official authorities convoy and extra-judicially killed him.

Frank’s case is a part of the continuing mass trial of detained terror suspects.