The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to appeal the prison sentences handed to three men convicted in separate terrorism-related cases, expressing dissatisfaction with what it considers inadequate punishments.
A security source disclosed that the Service is dissatisfied with the 32-year and 10-year jail terms imposed by a Federal High Court in Kano on Jamilu Ibrahim and Rayya Haruna, respectively. The DSS is also challenging the 10-year prison sentence handed by a Katsina State High Court to the 80-year-old village head of Salihawa in Safana Local Government Area, Audu Adamu Tubali.
According to the source, Ibrahim and Haruna were arrested by DSS operatives in connection with terrorism-related activities. Tubali was also arrested by DSS officers, who recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from him.
The prosecution told the court that Ibrahim was arrested with four Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and 832 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition meant for AK-47 rifles, which he allegedly planned to deliver to a Katsina-based bandit kingpin identified as Karami.
According to the security source, the DSS viewed the three sentences as a “slap on the wrist” when compared to the gravity of their offences. He pointed to precedent judgements on similar arms-trafficking cases secured by the DSS.
The source cited the case of Hauwa’u Mukhtar, a female arms courier recently sentenced to death by a Federal High Court sitting in Katsina State.
The convict was arrested by DSS operatives at Jibia Motor Park, Katsina State, while attempting to transport 438 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to a notorious bandit kingpin in the Dunburum Forest area of Zamfara State.
“Where the courts have found it fit to impose the maximum penalty in cases involving the transportation of arms to bandit and terrorist networks, the DSS believes that similar treatment should be meted on Ibrahim, Haruna and Tubali, moreso as the weapons found on them are more lethal than those found on the lady sentenced to death by hanging,” argued the source.
“The Service believes in fairness to all, and will explore all available legal options to ensure that the full weight of the law is made to bear on all who run foul of it without fear or favour,” he added.
Another source described the proposed appeals, as part of the Service’s broader push to secure judicial outcomes that serve as stronger deterrents against arms trafficking and support for terrorist and bandit networks across the country.
