The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced the mother and sister of slain terrorist kingpin, Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo, to 40 years imprisonment for terrorism-related offences.
Key Highlights:
- Battujo’s mother and sister were convicted of terrorism-related offences.
- They admitted aiding his activities and concealing key information.
- Two financial-related terrorism charges were dropped.
- Each received 20-year prison terms, to run concurrently.
- The court also ordered rehabilitation after imprisonment.
The convicts, Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, were found guilty on charges bordering on aiding and abetting terrorism as well as concealing information that could have led to the arrest of the notorious bandit leader.
Battujo was killed by Nigerian security forces on June 10, 2026, during an operation in a forest near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa handed down the sentence after the two women pleaded guilty to Counts 2, 4 and 5 of a five-count charge filed against them by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
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The court, however, struck out Counts 1 and 3 following an application by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr Oyedepo Rotimi (SAN).
Count 1 accused the defendants of receiving N490,300 from Battujo, knowing or having reason to know that the money formed part of the proceeds of terrorism, while Count 3 alleged that they undertook Hajj pilgrimage sponsorship financed from terrorism proceeds.
The prosecution urged the court to discontinue the two counts and proceed with sentencing on the remaining charges to which the defendants had admitted guilt.
According to Count 2, both women aided and abetted Battujo’s terrorist activities by passing information to him through telephone conversations.
The charge stated that their actions were contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In addition, Safiya Salihu pleaded guilty to Count 5, which accused her of concealing information about the activities of her son despite knowledge that such information could have assisted security agencies in apprehending him.
Halima Abdullahi also admitted guilt to Count 4, which alleged that she failed to disclose information about her brother’s possession of firearms after visiting his forest camp and seeing the weapons.
The offence is punishable under Section 16 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Justice Yilwa sentenced each of the convicts to 20 years imprisonment on each count for which they were convicted.
The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, bringing the effective jail term to 20 years each.
The judge further directed that both convicts should undergo rehabilitation after serving their prison terms.
