The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced Mahmud Usman, a leader of the Ansaru terrorist group and one of the gunmen behind multiple kidnappings and the Kuje prison attack in Abuja, to 15 years in prison.
Usman sentencing came after he pleaded guilty to charges of illegal mining of Californium stone without lawful authority, the proceeds of which were used to purchase arms and ammunition.
During the ruling on Thursday, the presiding judge, Emeka Nwite, ordered the defendant to be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) pending his trial for 31 other charges levelled against him by the service.
Justice Nwite, also adjourned the court sitting until October 21st for the trial of the remaining charges.
Usman, from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, was arraigned alongside his counterpart, Abubakar Abba, by DSS on several charges, including high-level criminal activities across the country.
The Ansaru leaders were arraigned on a 32-count charge sheet, including kidnapping for ransom, commissioning acts of terrorism, illegal mining, fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and terrorism financing.
The duo were also accused of attacking the Wawa cantonment of the Nigerian Army in Kainji, New Bussa, Borgu Local Government Area in 2022, which resulted in mass casualties.
