THE 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 explosions that killed more than 70 people and left several others injured.
The judgment was delivered by Justice James Omotosho during the ongoing Abuja mass trial of suspected terrorists, where several defendants also received various prison terms for related offences.
News Point Nigeria reports that the case, marked FHC/KNJ/CR/985/2026, was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
Justice Omotosho sentenced Garba to 35 years imprisonment on counts one and two, life imprisonment on count three, and death by hanging on counts four and five. While delivering the judgment, he said, “May God have mercy on you.”
Court documents showed that in count three, which attracted life imprisonment, Garba of Jambutu Park in Jimeta Local Government Area of Adamawa State, alongside others still at large, was accused of conspiring to plan and coordinate the 2014 Nyanya Motor Park bombing in Abuja.
The prosecution said the attack involved the use of explosive devices that killed over 70 people and injured several others, an offence punishable under Section 17 of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
In count four, which attracted the death penalty, Garba and others at large were accused of knowingly and intentionally detonating explosive devices at Nyanya Motor Park with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, resulting in mass casualties under Section 1(3) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Count five also attracted capital punishment, with the court holding that the convict participated in an act of terrorism that led to the deaths of over 70 persons through explosive detonation under the same law.
The court also ruled on other terrorism-related cases. In charge number FHC/KNJ/CR/1020/2026, Ali Mohammed was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment on one count and 15 years on another. Isa Saleh received a 20-year jail term in charge FHC/KNJ/CR/973/2026, while Tujan Mohammed was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in charge FHC/KNJ/CR/954/2026.
In another ruling, Salisu Bala was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on one count but discharged and acquitted on two other counts in charge FHC/KNJ/CR/963/2026.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the terrorism trials, usually held in Kainji, Niger State, were relocated to the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who led the prosecution team, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism in the country, saying: “We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody.”
