The Federal High Court in Abuja has handed a 20-year prison sentence to Hussaini Ismaila, a high-ranking leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Tuesday following a lengthy legal process. Ismaila, widely known by the alias Mai Tangaran, was convicted after changing his plea from not guilty to guilty on four counts of terrorism.
A Legacy of Violence in Kano
The conviction stems from charges filed under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013. Ismaila was found responsible for orchestrating a series of coordinated, deadly attacks on police infrastructure in Kano State in 2012.
The court established that Ismaila led assaults on several critical security formations, resulting in multiple casualties. The targeted locations included:
- The Police Headquarters in Bompai.
- The Mobile Police Base on Kabuga Road.
- The Pharm Centre Police Station.
- The Angwa Uku Police Station.
The Legal Journey
Ismaila was apprehended by security forces on August 31, 2017, at Tsamiyya Babba Village in the Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
The path to conviction was slow, hampered by various interlocutory appeals and a “trial-within-trial” necessitated by defense challenges regarding the voluntariness of Ismaila’s extra-judicial statements.
However, the case reached a turning point after the Department of State Services (DSS) called five witnesses, including operatives and eyewitnesses. Following the testimony of the fifth witness, Ismaila opted to change his plea.
His counsel, P. B. Onijah of the Legal Aid Council, pleaded for leniency. He argued that the defendant was remorseful and had saved the court time by admitting guilt.
Sentencing and Rehabilitation
Justice Nwite found Ismaila guilty on all counts. He sentenced the ISWAP leader to 15 years on count one and 20 years each on counts two, three, and four. The judge ruled that the sentences would run concurrently, meaning Ismaila will serve a maximum of 20 years.
Crucially, the court ruled that the sentence takes effect from the date of his arrest in 2017. Additionally, Justice Nwite ordered that Ismaila must undergo a mandatory rehabilitation and deradicalization program once his prison term concludes.
Ansaru Leaders’ Trial Adjourned
In a related development on Wednesday, the same court adjourned the trial of two alleged leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba.
The defendants are facing a hefty 32-count charge brought by the DSS. The allegations cover a crime spree between 2015 and 2024, including:
- Terrorism financing and arms procurement.
- Illegal mining activities to fund operations.
- Kidnapping of security personnel (including Customs and Immigration officers).
- The bombing of the Wawa Military Cantonment in Niger State.
While Usman has pleaded guilty to one count related to economic crimes, he denies the terrorism charges. He is already serving a 15-year sentence for illegal mining related to terror financing. His co-defendant, Abba, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Justice Nwite adjourned the case to January 15, 2026, and directed the defense to follow proper protocols regarding access to their clients at the correctional center.
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