The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Muhammad Sani to 20 years in prison for concealing information that could have led to the arrest of an alleged notorious bandit and arms supplier operating in Niger State.
Sani was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services in January 2023 and subsequently arraigned on a four-count charge under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The DSS told the court that Sani was aware of the activities of one Danranmi, an alleged bandit accused of supplying arms and ammunition to kidnappers and other criminal groups in and around Niger State, but failed to alert security agencies.
According to the prosecution, the information in Sani’s possession would have materially assisted law enforcement authorities in apprehending the suspect, but his failure to disclose it enabled the alleged bandit to evade arrest.
The agency further alleged that Sani received N580,000 from Danranmi for the purchase of 150 rounds of ammunition from a supplier identified as “Chairman”, despite knowing or having reasonable grounds to suspect that the ammunition would be used to facilitate terrorist activities.
After reviewing the evidence before the court, Justice Emeka Nwite convicted Sani on two of the four counts brought against him.
The judge sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment without the option of a fine on each of the two counts and ordered that the sentence run from January 11, 2023, when he was taken into custody.
Justice Nwite also directed that the convict be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre to serve his sentence.
The judgment underscores the provisions of Nigeria’s anti-terrorism laws, which criminalise not only direct involvement in terrorist activities but also the concealment of information capable of preventing or disrupting such crimes.
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