A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a 37-year-old man, Zakaria Garba, to death by hanging for his involvement in the 2014 Nyanya Motor Park bomb explosion that claimed more than 70 lives and left several others injured.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment after Garba pleaded guilty to a five-count terrorism charge filed against him by the Federal Government.
The court also sentenced the convict to life imprisonment on one of the counts and imposed 35-year jail terms on two other counts.
The case, marked FHC/KNJ/CR/985/2026, was prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
In count three, which attracted life imprisonment, Garba and others still at large were found guilty of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism through the planning and coordination of the bombing of Nyanya Motor Park in Abuja in 2014.
According to the charge, the attack resulted in the deaths of more than 70 persons and injuries to several others.
The offence is punishable under Section 17 of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
On counts four and five, Justice Omotosho sentenced Garba to death by hanging after finding him guilty of intentionally causing the detonation of explosive devices at the motor park and participating in acts of terrorism that led to multiple deaths.
“May God have mercy on you,” the judge said while pronouncing the sentence.
The court heard that Garba, a resident of Jambutu Park in Jimeta Local Government Area of Adamawa State, admitted in his confessional statement that he sold tea and bread before becoming involved in terrorist activities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nyanya bombing was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Nigeria’s history, causing widespread casualties and destruction.
Justice Omotosho also convicted and sentenced several other defendants who pleaded guilty to separate terrorism-related charges.
Ali Mohammed, in charge number FHC/KNJ/CR/1020/2026, was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment on count one and 15 years on count two.
Isa Saleh received a 20-year jail term in a one-count charge marked FHC/KNJ/CR/973/2026.
Similarly, Tujan Mohammed was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in charge number FHC/KNJ/CR/954/2026.
In another case, Salisu Bala was convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on count two but was discharged and acquitted on counts one and three in charge number FHC/KNJ/CR/963/2026.
NAN reports that the terrorism trials, usually conducted in Kainji, Niger State, were held at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Speaking after the proceedings, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to combating terrorism.
“We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody,” Fagbemi said.
