Federal High Court, Jos has found the 15 persons arrested after the March 7, attack of Dogo Na Hauwa guilty of conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms and terrorism and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
The 15 convicted persons were arrested in Mangu, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State on March 8, 2010, a day after the pre-dawn attack in Dogo Na Hauwa Village.
Delivering the judgment, Thursday, in Jos, the Plateau State capital, Justice Ambrose Alagoa said the 15 accused persons were guilty as charged and should be sentenced to life imprisonment as provided for anyone guilty of terrorism.
Client to the accused, Ahmed Garba Esq argued that the arms found with the accused persons were for self defense and not to attack anyone, arguing that finding them in possession of fire arms did not constitute a terrorism offence and that the accused persons had not used the arms to cause harm to anyone.
The prosecutor, Charles Ihua-maduenyi of the Federal Ministry of Justice of the federation, insisted that for the fact that the 15 accused persons were arrested from the same place, at the same time along with fire arms, showed they conspired to, not only perpetrate criminal act but to carry out act of terrorism.
Giving his judgment on the case, Justice Alagoa said: “The accused are guilty as charged because the prosecutor has been able to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt, while the defense of the accused persons appeared concocted and contradictory in nature.”
However, Counsel to the convicted persons, pleaded on behalf of his clients for mercy, saying, “since the accused are not interested in appealing the case and for the fact that they are all married men who have been in detention for nine months without proper feeding and medical attention, the court should temper justice with mercy.”
Considering the plea for mercy, the presiding judge announced that the accused persons would serve a two year jail term having been found guilty of conspiracy, 12 months for being in possession of illegal fire arms and 10 months for being found guilty of terrorism.
“Conspiracy is punishable for two years under section 518 of the criminal act, being in possession of illegal weapon without license under the law of the federation carries two years jail term with an option of fine, while the offence of terrorism goes for life sentence,”he said.
The presiding judge explained that the jail sentence should run concurrently beginning from the period of their incarceration. Speaking after the judgment, counsel to the accused said he was happy with the judgment and the position of the court on the matter.
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