A Maiduguri-based businessman, Umar Bashir, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without option of fine for terrorism financing.

The convict who claimed to be a major dealer in oil perfumes and also a Point Of Sales, POS, operator, was found guilty of using his account number 2213629628 with the United Bank of Africa, UBA, to transact money transfer for members of the Boko Haram sect.

He specifically admitted using the bank account to accept a cash amount of N5 million from a Boko Haram member, Ibrahim Modu, and later transferred same into the Access Bank account of the terrorist, with number 1834250967.

The convict admitted committing the offence at Maiduguri in 2025, adding that he got a commission of N20,000 from the deal.

Upon his arraignment by the Federal Government on Monday, Bashir pleaded guilty as charged.

Based on his admission of guilt and his confessional statement, Justice Binta Fatimah Nyako subsequently pronounced him guilty and sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment without option of fine.

Justice Nyako ordered that the sentence should begin from 2025 when he was arrested and detained.

The judge turned down the convict’s request for leniency, stressing that the law must take its course.

Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have repelled an attack by suspected Lakurawa terrorists and recovered rocket-propelled grenade launchers, explosives and other items during a clearance operation in Kebbi State.

According to a military report released on Monday, the operation was carried out by troops of the 8 Division under Sector 2 around Dogon Daji in Dandi Local Government Area on Sunday.

The report said the troops encountered the suspected terrorists during an offensive operation, leading to a firefight in which the assailants were overwhelmed by the military’s superior firepower and forced to flee.

Following the encounter, troops pursued the fleeing suspects and carried out exploitation operations in the area.

Items recovered during the operation included rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launch tubes, rocket-propelled grenades, several improvised explosive devices (IEDs), two motorcycles, a charger and other personal belongings allegedly abandoned by the terrorists.

The military said no casualties were recorded among the troops during the operation.

It added that the mission formed part of ongoing efforts by Operation Fansan Yamma to dismantle terrorist and bandit networks operating across the North-West.

According to the report, sustained offensive operations have continued to disrupt the activities and logistics of criminal groups, while further operations are underway to track down the fleeing suspects and consolidate gains recorded in the area.

Justice Binta Fatimah Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a father of 11 children and husband of two wives, Isa Isiaka, to 20 years imprisonment for deliberate refusal to lodge information on the activities of Boko Haram to the Federal Government.

Isiaka was jailed on Monday following his admission of guilt to terrorism charges instituted against him by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice.

Immediately after the charge was read, the accused person, without wasting the time of the court, admitted that he was guilty as charged.

AGF and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who stood for the Federal Government, accused the convict of concealing information that would have led to immediate arrest of members of the proscribed Boko Haram sect.

The convict however urged the judge to be lenient with him on grounds of being a first offender and also for being a father to 11 children and husband to two wives.

In his judgment, Justice Binta Nyako rejected his plea as untenable and sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment without option of fine.