The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to appeal two recent judgments delivered by Federal and State High Courts, expressing dissatisfaction with the prison terms imposed on three men convicted in separate terrorism-related cases.
Security sources said the Service considers the sentences inadequate given the gravity of the offences. A Federal High Court in Kano sentenced Jamilu Ibrahim to 32 years’ imprisonment and Rayya Haruna to 10 years’ imprisonment, while a Katsina State High Court sentenced the 80-year-old village head of Salihawa in Safana Local Government Area, Audu Adamu Tubali, to 10 years in prison.
The three convicts were arrested by DSS operatives in separate operations that led to the recovery of large caches of arms and ammunition. According to the Service, the weapons were intended to support terrorist and bandit networks. Ibrahim was arrested by DSS officers with a large cache of arms and ammunition the prosecution said he planned to deliver to a Katsina -based bandit kingpin called Karami. DSS officers arrested him with four Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and 832 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition meant for AK-47 rifles.
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.
