Terrorism: Court sentences Berende, Adewumi to 40 years imprisonment

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday sentenced Abdullahi Mustapha Berende and Saheed Oluremi Adewumi to a total of 40 years imprisonment for committing acts of terrorism.

But both convicts, Berende and Adewumi might have spent their sentences as the six count charge on which they were found guilty are running concurrently. They have been in detention since 2012.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who handed over the sentence in a judgment delivered on Wednesday, held that the confessional statements of both the convicts attested to the fact that they indeed committed acts of terrorism.

He said the evidences of the convicts were collaborated by the evidences of prosecution witnesses.

The judge said, “And after reviewing the evidences of eight prosecution witness and those of the defendants, I found Berende guilty on all six count. I found the second defendant guilty on count 5 and 6.”

In his sentencing, the judge said: “In view of the fact that both defendants have spent 5 years in custody, the 1st defendant (Berende) is sentenced to 5 years on count 1,2,3,4,5 and 6. While, the second defendant (Adewumi ) is sentenced to 5 years on count 5 and 6. Each count to run concurrently.”

Both convicts were found guilty for providing support for acts of terrorism by an Iranian militant cell. Abdullahi Mustapha Berende was trained in Lebanon and Iran in the act of weapon handling including explosive according to the court document.

He had recruited Saheed Oluremi Adewumi to gather intelligence about locations frequented by Israelis and Americans before their arrest.

Pleading for mercy on their behalf before sentencing, the lawyer to the convicts, M. Hannafi, urged the judge to temper justice with mercy as Berende has no previous crime record. He added that Berende had spent five years in custody.

In same vein, lawyer to Adewumi, Mr. O Oladimeji, said that Adewumi has no criminal record. According to him, his client is a young man with master’s degree, saying that he also spent five years in detention.

Andrew Orolua, Abuja.