Court sentences Halima Haliru Umar to 20 years for terrorism offences in Abuja

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Halima Haliru Umar to 20 years’ imprisonment for terrorism-related offences after she pleaded guilty to possessing 302 rounds of AK47 ammunition and attempting to support acts of terrorism. Justice Hauwa Yilwa delivered the ruling on Friday, convicting her on two counts of a four-count charge brought by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Umar entered the guilty plea during her arraignment on May 11, according to the court’s review of the case facts. The judge said the plea amounted to an admission of the prosecution’s allegations on the counts she acknowledged, without presenting a defence on those issues. She was sentenced to 20 years on one count relating to the attempt to support terrorism and given a separate one-year jail term on the firearms-related possession count.

Earlier court proceedings indicated that Umar, from Unguwan Boka in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, was arrested in Plateau State on July 7, 2025. The DSS said she was caught in and around Barkin Ladi and Jos North areas while in possession of the ammunition. Court documents marked FHCABJCR4502025 linked the case to allegations that she...