Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday sentenced one Sunday Frank to 40 years in correctional custody for performing as a spy for infamous Benue bandit leader, the late Terwase Akwaza, popularly generally known as Gana.
Frank, who hails from Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, was convicted after confessing that he monitored and supplied info to Gana concerning the motion of safety brokers.
He was arraigned on a four-count cost filed by the Federal Government and prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
According to the cost, the convict additionally kidnapped one Samuel in 2022 and held him hostage till the sum of N40,000 was paid as ransom.
He was accused of committing offences opposite to Sections 21 and 24 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
Although the defendant denied counts 1, 2 and three which border on abduction, he pleaded responsible to rely 4 which pertains to offering info to the bandit leader.
Following his plea, the AGF utilized for the three counts denied by the defendant to be struck out, a request which was granted by the court.
The prosecution thereafter known as a witness who instructed the court that he was a part of the crew that investigated the defendant.
In his submission, the AGF urged the court to convict the defendant on Count 4 to which he pleaded responsible, in view of his confessional assertion and displays tendered.
Delivering judgement, Justice Hawa (*40*) discovered the defendant responsible on Count 4 and sentenced him to 40 years’ imprisonment, with impact from the date of his arrest.
The court additionally ordered that upon completion of his jail time period, the convict ought to bear a rehabilitation programme.
The case is a part of the continued mass trial of detained terror suspects.
