A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced Haliru Umar to 20 years in prison after she was found guilty of unlawful possession of 302 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition and attempting to support acts linked to terrorism.
The conviction followed her arraignment by the Department of State Services (DSS), which arrested her in Plateau State over allegations connected to terrorism-related activities.
Umar had, on March 11, pleaded guilty to two counts among a four-count charge preferred against her. Following her plea, the court reviewed the facts of the case relating to the admitted counts and reserved judgment, while the remaining charges were scheduled for full trial.
Delivering judgment, Justice Hauwa Yilwa noted that the defendant’s guilty plea meant she had accepted the prosecution’s case as presented in court, without calling any evidence in her defence or challenging the allegations.
During the proceedings, defence counsel Hamza Dantani urged the court to show leniency. He described Umar as a first-time offender who had expressed remorse. He also told the court that she did not delay proceedings on the counts she admitted. The lawyer further appealed for mercy, stressing that the convict is a nursing mother of a one-year-old child who was arrested alongside her.
On the prosecution’s side, counsel Caliistus Eze informed the court that there was no record of any previous conviction against the defendant.
After a short recess, Justice Yilwa returned to deliver her decision, sentencing Umar to 20 years imprisonment on count three and one year on count four.
The court subsequently adjourned the case until July 9 for the continuation of trial on counts one and two, which the defendant has denied.