RismadarVoice Reporters, May 15, 2026
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced a woman, Halima Haliru Umar, to 20 years imprisonment for illegal arms trafficking linked to bandit networks.
The trial judge, Justice Yilewa Joseph, handed down the sentence after the convict pleaded guilty to charges bordering on terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
Halima was arrested by the Department of State Services in 2025 in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State while allegedly in possession of 302 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition and N57,000 cash.
During the arraignment, the defendant admitted guilt to counts three and four of the charges filed against her.
In his judgment, Justice Yilewa held that the convict freely admitted to the facts presented by the prosecution and failed to provide any evidence in her defence.
The court subsequently convicted and sentenced her to 20 years’ imprisonment on the two counts.
Earlier, defence counsel, Hamzat Dantani, appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that the defendant had not wasted the court’s time by pleading guilty.
The court, however, adjourned proceedings to July 9, 2026, for the commencement of trial on counts one and two, to which the convict pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution said the case forms part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to disrupt illegal arms supply chains and dismantle bandit and terrorist networks operating across Nigeria.
