The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for their involvement in the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, rejecting pleas for leniency from the defence.

The convicts, Abdulrazak Umar (also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (also known as Yunusa bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (also known as Abu Itisar) — had pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges brought against them by the Federal Government.

During the sentencing hearing, defence counsel urged the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that the defendants had admitted their crimes, expressed remorse and deserved a second chance.

The lawyer also told the court that the convicts were responsible for the welfare of their wives, children and elderly parents, asking the judge to impose a lighter sentence.

Justice Salim Ibrahim dismissed the request for leniency, ruling that the seriousness of the offences warranted a life sentence.

The judge ordered that the life imprisonment terms would take effect from the exact date of the convicts’ arrest, ensuring that the time already spent in custody would count toward the sentence.

The three men were prosecuted in connection with the May 2026 attack on schools in Oriire LGA, where dozens of pupils and teachers were abducted by suspected terrorists linked to the Ansaru group before they were rescued in a joint security operation weeks later.

The ruling is one of the first major convictions arising from the high-profile Oriire school abduction, an incident that sparked nationwide concern over the spread of terrorist activities into Nigeria’s South-West.

The judgment underscores the Federal Government’s efforts to prosecute individuals linked to terrorism and mass kidnappings through the judicial process.

The conviction sends a strong signal that terrorism and school abductions will continue to attract severe legal consequences.

It also highlights the role of the courts in complementing security operations aimed at tackling kidnapping and terrorism across Nigeria.

The Federal High Court is expected to deliver its ruling on Friday on an application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seeking approval to destroy a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory valued at approximately ₦480 billion in Ogun State.

The agency is asking the court to authorise the destruction of the illicit drug production facility, describing it as one of the largest methamphetamine laboratories uncovered in Nigeria.

The application follows the discovery and dismantling of the suspected meth lab during an anti-narcotics operation in Ogun State.

According to the NDLEA, the facility was allegedly used for the large-scale production of methamphetamine, a highly addictive synthetic drug linked to organised crime and substance abuse.

The agency told the court that preserving the laboratory poses security and environmental risks, hence its request for judicial approval to destroy the facility.

The case forms part of the NDLEA’s intensified crackdown on drug trafficking syndicates and illegal drug manufacturing across the country.

In recent months, the agency has announced several major seizures of narcotics, arrests of suspected traffickers and the dismantling of clandestine laboratories as it seeks to curb the production and distribution of illicit drugs.

Officials say the operations are aimed at disrupting criminal networks while reducing the availability of dangerous substances within Nigeria and beyond.

The Federal High Court is expected to determine whether the agency has met the legal requirements for the destruction of the facility and related exhibits.

The ruling could set the stage for the safe disposal of the laboratory under the supervision of relevant authorities if the application is granted.

Methamphetamine production remains a major security and public health concern due to its links to organised crime, addiction and transnational drug trafficking.

The court’s decision could mark another milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to dismantle illegal drug manufacturing operations and strengthen the fight against narcotics.

A High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced Apostle Ubong Bassey Etim, 51, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of the murder of his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey.

Justice Rosemary Dugbo Oghoghorie delivered the judgment after concluding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The court held that the defendant unlawfully caused the death of the teenager, who had been accused of witchcraft.

According to the prosecution, Deborah Bassey was subjected to abuse after being accused of practising witchcraft before she eventually died.

After reviewing the evidence presented during the trial, the court convicted Apostle Etim of murder and imposed the death sentence prescribed under the law.

The judge ruled that the prosecution successfully established the elements of the offence and that the evidence justified a conviction.

The judgment has renewed public attention on the dangers of witchcraft accusations against children, a practice that child rights advocates have consistently condemned.

Organisations working to protect children have long warned that allegations of witchcraft often expose minors to violence, abuse, abandonment and, in extreme cases, death.

They have continued to call for stronger enforcement of child protection laws, public awareness campaigns and the prosecution of offenders.

The case underscores Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to protect children from harmful traditional beliefs and abuse.

It also highlights the role of the judiciary in enforcing accountability for crimes committed against minors, regardless of the relationship between the accused and the victim.