A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Sunday Frank, a native of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, to 40 years’ imprisonment for spying for slain militia leader Terwase Akwaza, popularly known as Gana.
The case is part of the Federal Government’s ongoing mass trial of detained terrorism suspects.
Frank was convicted after pleading guilty to providing intelligence to Gana on the movements of security operatives, an offence prosecuted under Nigeria’s terrorism laws.
The Federal Government had filed a four-count charge against Frank, accusing him of several offences, including kidnapping a man identified as Samuel in 2022 and holding him hostage until a ransom of N40,000 was paid.
However, Frank denied the first three counts relating to the alleged abduction but pleaded guilty to the fourth count bordering on providing intelligence to Gana. Following his plea, the prosecution, led by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, applied for the withdrawal of the counts he denied. The court granted the application.
Justice Hawa Yilwa subsequently convicted Frank and sentenced him to 40 years in prison, effective from the date of his arrest.
The court also ordered that he undergo a rehabilitation programme after completing his prison term.
