DSS to Appeal Life Sentence Handed to Ansaru Terror Commanders
The Department of State Services (DSS) has indicated its intention to appeal the life sentences imposed on two senior commanders of the outlawed Ansaru terrorist group, arguing that the punishment does not reflect the gravity of the offences committed.
The decision follows Monday’s judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas, or Mukhtar, who was identified by prosecutors as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and Abubakar Abba, also known as Mahmud al-Nigeri or Malam Mamuda, to life imprisonment after both men pleaded guilty to all 32 counts filed against them.
A senior DSS official, who spoke on the development, said the Service considers the sentence too lenient in view of the seriousness of the crimes attributed to the two convicted terrorists.
According to the official, investigators observed a significant change in the defendants’ position during the trial. While both men had initially maintained their innocence, they later entered guilty pleas after a prolonged period of uncertainty.
The official alleged that the change coincided with the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, by suspected members of the Ansaru group. According to the DSS, intelligence gathered during the crisis suggested that one of the kidnappers’ principal demands was the unconditional release of the two detained Ansaru commanders.
The official further claimed that during earlier court proceedings, the defendants had declined to immediately state their pleas, prompting Justice Nwite to give them a deadline to decide before the final hearing. Following the successful rescue operation involving the kidnapped victims, the two defendants subsequently returned to court and pleaded guilty to all charges.
The DSS official also maintained that the lives lost during the Oriire kidnapping should be taken into account in determining an appropriate punishment.
According to the Service, two teachers were reportedly killed by the kidnappers during the captivity, allegedly as part of efforts to pressure authorities into releasing the detained Ansaru leaders.
The DSS said it believes a stronger sentence would better serve the interests of justice for the victims and their families, adding that it is pursuing legal options to challenge the judgment before the appropriate appellate court.
The Federal High Court’s judgment followed the defendants’ guilty pleas to terrorism-related offences brought against them by the Federal Government. Further legal proceedings are expected as the appeal process begins.
DSS to Appeal Life Sentence Handed to Ansaru Terror Commanders