Court sentences Boko Haram motorcycle repairer to 11 years in prison

A 50-year-old motorcycle repairman, Mustapha Modu, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his involvement with Boko Haram, a designated terrorist organization. The sentencing took place Thursday in the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Binta Fatima Nyako.

Modu, from Belle village in Danbura Local Government Area of Borno State, pleaded guilty to charges that included providing support to the insurgent group by repairing motorcycles and failing to share information that could have led to the arrest of its members. Although he denied being a member of Boko Haram, Modu admitted to withholding critical information from security forces.

The Federal Government charged Modu with three counts related to his alleged activities with the group. In the court proceedings, Muinat Oladunjoye, the prosecutor, requested a summary judgment based on Modu’s guilty plea. Dauda Hassan, the defense attorney, did not contest this request but urged the judge to consider a lenient sentence, describing Modu as a victim of circumstances. Hassan also noted that Modu has been in detention since 2016.

Prior to the sentencing, Modu expressed his commitment to ensuring that his children receive both Islamic and Western education following his release.

Justice Nyako sentenced Modu to 11 years in prison, with the term retroactively effective from his arrest by the Department of State Services in 2016. The judge has directed the Federal Ministry of Interior to determine the appropriate correctional facility for Modu’s sentence.

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