A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a woman, Halima Haliru Umar, to 20 years in prison after she was found guilty of unlawful possession of ammunition and attempting to support acts of terrorism.
Justice Hauwa Yilwa delivered the judgment after the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts in a four-count charge filed against her by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Court records showed that Umar was arrested in Plateau State in possession of 302 rounds of AK-47 ammunition.
She also admitted to charges relating to efforts to provide support for terrorist activities.
During arraignment on March 11, the defendant pleaded guilty to counts three and four of the charge.
Following her plea, the court reviewed the facts presented by the prosecution and adjourned for judgment on the admitted counts.
At the sentencing hearing, defence counsel urged the court to show leniency, describing the convict as a first-time offender and a nursing mother who had shown remorse and did not waste judicial time.
The prosecution, however, told the court it had no record of previous convictions against her.
Delivering judgment, Justice Yilwa sentenced Umar to 20 years imprisonment on count three and one year on count four.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to July 9 for continuation of trial on the remaining two counts, to which the defendant pleaded not guilty.
