The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province, Hussaini Ismaila, to 20 years in prison for his role in several terrorism cases.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Tuesday after Ismaila, also known as Mai Tangaran, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on four terrorism counts filed under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Ismaila was accused of carrying out coordinated attacks on different police formations in Kano State in 2012. The facilities attacked included the Police Headquarters in Bompai, the Mobile Police Base on Kabuga Road, Pharm Centre Police Station, and Angwa Uku Police Station. Several people were injured during the incidents.
He was later arrested on August 31, 2017, at Tsamiyya Babba Village in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
The trial lasted several years due to appeals and a trial-within-trial to determine whether his statements were voluntary. The Department of State Services called five witnesses, including operatives and eyewitnesses, before Ismaila changed his plea.
His lawyer, P. B. Onijah from the Legal Aid Council, asked the court to show mercy, saying Ismaila was remorseful and wanted to avoid more delays.
After reviewing the case, Justice Nwite found him guilty on all four counts and sentenced him to 15 years on count one and 20 years each on counts two, three, and four. The sentences will run at the same time. The court also ruled that the term will start from August 31, 2017, the day he was arrested. The judge further ordered that he be sent for rehabilitation and deradicalisation after completing his sentence.
Meanwhile, the trial of two alleged leaders of the Ansaru terror group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, has been shifted to January 15, 2026.
Both men are facing a 32-count charge filed by the DSS for offences linked to terrorism, kidnapping, illegal mining, arms procurement, and terrorism financing between 2015 and 2024.
Usman has admitted guilt only on one count related to an economic offence. He is already serving a 15-year sentence for using illegal mining to fund terrorism and kidnapping. Abba denied all the charges.
The charges state that they bombed the Wawa Military Cantonment in Niger State, trained in weapons and explosives, kidnapped security officers—including a Customs and an Immigration officer, the latter of whom was killed—and collected millions of naira in ransom used to buy weapons and train members in Mali and Sudan.
At Wednesday’s hearing, defence lawyer B. I. Bakum asked the court to transfer the defendants to a correctional centre so that lawyers can easily access them for trial preparation. But DSS counsel David Kaswe objected, saying there are procedures that must be followed.
Justice Nwite adjourned the case to January 15, 2026, and told the defence to file the proper request for access.
