Court Sentences 17 UNIMAID, Ramat Polytechnic Students To Six Years In Prison

Some students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and Ramat Polytechnic have been sentenced to six years in prison each.

Ezenwoko’s Blog understands that the students were charged with offences bodering conspiracy and initiation into unlawful organizations.

Their arrest according to a statement made available to newsmen, was made by men of the Nigeria Police Force on September 21, 2019, at Bagani Hotel in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

The suspects are reportedly found to be members of an unlawful society, the Black Axe. They were sentenced on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, to six years imprisonment each for the two counts charge and will run concurrently.

The suspect’s names are revealed as follows: Arnold Augustine, Onu Chidubem, David Emmanuel, Awuto Abayomi, Mustapha Abdulkadir, Lavi Ephraim and Onuegbu Godspower Chibuzor.

Others are Mohammed Adamu, Calvin Ijafiya, Chris Kallu, Totsi Yohanna, Samuel Talba, Donald Omguze and Joseph Olaiya.

In his judgment on Wednesday, Justice Fadawu said: “There is evidence before this court that each of the suspects has committed the offences of conspiracy and initiation of others into the Black cult group.”

The judge noted that the convicts were charged under Section 97 subsection B of the Penal Code, explaining that they were charged for initiating other members into the unlawful society.

Counsel to the convicts, Ahmed Hamman, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that the students have regretted their actions and have learnt their lessons from their respective experiences.

Responding to the judgment, Borno State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Kaka Shehu Lawan, expressed delight with the court’s verdict.