Babajide Otitoju Lectures Us on The 13-Year Hunt For Nigeria’s Most Wanted

[00:00:00]Welcome back to Obasting. Is life imprisonment a enough punishment for terrorists who have spent over a decade orchestrating blood bath and kidnapping across Nigeria? Or should the hangman's news be the only acceptable end? That is a bowling question today as we diving into a very significant legal victory for the Nigerian state. Recently the federal high court sentenced two highranking commanders of the notorious ancot terrorist group Mahmud Usman and Abuaka Abba to life imprisonment. This judgment followed a 32 counts charge involving everything from terrorism financing and kidnapping to illegal mining and the and the fabrication of IEDs. What makes this case particularly fascinating is not just the sentence but the reaction of the Department of State Security Service as DSS and the insight shared by the veteran veteran journalist Baju on TVC's journalist hangout babe as he's fondly called reveals some chilling details about these men including the fact that they were on the United States wanted list for 13 years. This discussion is generating a lot of heat because while some see it as a triumph for our judicial system, the DSS is actually planning to appeal, punishing for the death penalty instead. Before we break down the political implication and the investigative brilliance behind this case, you need to see the original discussion for yourself. Watch the clip carefully and immediately after it ends, I will return with my detailed analysis, critical observations, and my personal take on everything that was said. And I would also love to get your own perspectives right inside the comment section. Don't go away. Sit back and take a watch.

[00:01:46]>> If you just joined us, it's still journalist hangout. I still have BK right here. And uh GKB is also right here with us. So straight to our next conversation. A guilty plea in a terrorism trial is often one of the clearest acknowledgments of criminal responsibility before the law. That principle came into focus and court sentenced two Ansaru commanders Mahmud Usman and Abu Baka Abba to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to a 32count charge bordering on terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, funding terrorism and fabrication of improvised explosive devices, IEDs, among other offenses. The Department of State Services DSS is planning to appeal the judgment as it prefers the death sentence. Okay. Miko, how significant is it that um two senior Ansaru operatives have pleaded guilty to terrorism financing and operational activities?

[00:02:47]>> You got to give the DSS um their flowers.

[00:02:51]>> Their flowers because they are doing a good job of not just arresting The enemies of the state were building good cases against these good for nothing people.

[00:03:08]And the way the DSS built his case, once you are charged, you cannot win the case >> because you'll be confronted by tremendous evidence.

[00:03:28]They are not the first terrorist who will admit to their crime. M >> some terrorists that had been convicted recently by the DSS they didn't waste the time of the court because >> when overwhelming evidence is provided >> you have no choice.

[00:03:48]The more you waste the time of the court, the the the more you you you make life difficult for yourself >> because there will be no possibility of even getting a more lenient >> and look at them young people.

[00:04:08]These two guys had been on the wanted list of America for 13 years >> and our DSS got hold of them. The moment the DSS got hold of them, America congratulated Nigeria. We remember discussing it here.

[00:04:25]>> Yes, >> we may not give these people credit.

[00:04:29]>> We may not give them credit because we don't like the person who is in government. But the fact remains that the DSS has been doing a tremendous job. Now Abu Bar and Mahmuda those are their aliases.

[00:04:49]>> Abu leader of Ansaru.

[00:04:55]andsu terrorist group carried out the attack trying to force government to release these people and what did Nigeria do we didn't waste time >> we took them to court so that they will know that we are not interested in any hanky panky we are not interested in in in in releasing their men >> in the past we did that and is one of the reasons this whole problem has not ended in this problem will get worse if you continue to release >> people who should uh be be locked up permanently in the slama. So it became clear that they carried out the attack the kidnapping of those children >> just to force the hand of the government to release their men. Remember I said it on this program >> exclusively. I announced it here >> that the only demand they were making. I first announced the group that carried out the attack.

[00:05:57]>> Okay.

[00:05:58]>> And then said the the demand they were making is not about money. The release of their leaders >> now that woman the teacher >> also shot a video where she said no they are not ill treating us.

[00:06:14]>> They are not asking for money. They are saying release our leaders who are in detention. And the woman who was pleading apparently they had coached her to say that was pleading that they should release those people. They should find a way to work together.

[00:06:30]>> Today I am excited that rather than release them, >> they've been jailed.

[00:06:36]>> They've been sentenced to life imprisonment rather than paying them ransom.

[00:06:45]No ransom was paid and we secured the release of those children. People can say all kinds of things. They don't even know how how this went about what happened.

[00:06:55]>> They don't know what happened. It's not everything that some of us can talk about. It's not everything that we know >> that we can talk about.

[00:07:02]If you like, don't call it rescue. Yes, that's your problem.

[00:07:07]But what happened was a rescue >> was.

[00:07:09]>> And people were were arrested. Those who are arrested, some of them are already facing trial too. But this all this trial began before.

[00:07:20]>> Yeah. Before. Yes. Yes.

[00:07:22]>> These ones were not at the scene.

[00:07:25]>> They had arrested them a long time ago.

[00:07:28]>> So it's normal that their own case has been concluded. But >> among the people who are arrested at that scene, who were involved in the planning of >> Yes. This whole thing >> their trial has begun.

[00:07:44]There was a shootout.

[00:07:46]People died.

[00:07:48]>> They may not give you the details because they know you will even misuse the details. People died.

[00:07:54]>> Terrorists took to their heels, left the children.

[00:07:59]>> Terrorists admitted that look where we are now. And I've said it before that they were given ultimatum.

[00:08:05]Remember we have your own family members >> family members with us >> for that >> you know. So if you decide to flee and leave the children it's not anybody's problem but even in doing that >> our troops still made arrests right there inside the forest. Our troops still killed some of them.

[00:08:28]>> That is a fact.

[00:08:31]That is a fact. It's an expansive forest for forest 2,500 square kilometers. You may not know everything that transpired, but this is it. It's a happy day.

[00:08:43]>> It's a happy day >> that these guys and when people say, "Oh, DSS wants death penalty."

[00:08:48]Justice is justice. It's not all the time that you get death penalty. Kabir, it depends on the judge you come before.

[00:08:55]Kabiru who planned the Christmas day bombing.

[00:09:00]Kabu Sokoto got life imprisonment. So they are not even the first terrorists to back life imprisonment and there will still be those who will get life imprisonment.

[00:09:10]>> So it depends on the job.

[00:09:12]>> It depends on the jaw and how the jaw looks at the case because the DS it feels like they are not happy about this. They don't think it's justice.

[00:09:19]They want to appeal.

[00:09:20]>> They are not happy.

[00:09:21]>> Death sentence. Do you agree with normally all over the world when somebody pleads guilt the chances are it was a plea bargain.

[00:09:29]that will do this >> no mitigation can the judge can be lenient >> okay since we didn't waste the time of the court >> so most of the time that's [clears throat] way it works but I think DSS wanted to make a statement with a death sentence and these guys were aware >> that these people are gone in for us so the lawyers would have told them look if you don't waste anybody's time feel guilty to all charges 35 of them >> in any case there's evidence >> it's a message of repentance [clears throat] under two months they've been sentenced cuz they could have dragged on this for for months >> for months >> but they to realize that fertility of that >> yes >> given the stack of evidence >> that they had built up against them >> in front of them >> now let's look at the fact what we just watched isn't just a regular news report it is a testament to a significant shift in how Nigeria is handling high-profile terrorism cases the major issue here is the conviction of Mahmud Usman Abuaka Abba as Babajid correly pointed out these are not small fry criminals. These are commanders of the Ansaru sect and al-Qaeda linked group that has been a turn in the in the side of the global security. One of the most striking points Baba Med and I must emphasize this is the quality of the investigation led by the DSS. In many Nigerian criminal cases, we see suspects working free due to technicalities or lack of diligent prosecution. However, in this instance, the DSS built such an airtight, overwhelming case that the terrorists had no choice but to plead guilty. Think about the psychology of that for a moment. A hardened terrorist commander does not plead guilty out of a sudden change of heart. They pleaded guilty when they are shown evidence that is so undeniable. reports, be it forensic, digital, or testimonial, that their lawyers tell them a trial would only lead to a swifter, more certain death sentence. Babai and Babaj's analysis strongly favors the DSS here and the fact support him to have kept these men on a 32count charge and secure a guilty plea is a massive win for the intelligenceled policing in Nigeria. Bab highlighted that the 13-year period these men spent on the US wanted list, this add a layer of international credibility to the DSS works. It shows that our local intelligence succeeded where global agencies had been searching for over a decade. Furthermore, the discussion touched on the Aura attack.

[00:12:03]If you recall that that was a brutal operation where children were kidnapped, the motive to force the Nigerian government into a prisoner swap to release their very leaders. BK argued that by refusing to cave to that blackmail and instead taking these men to court, the Nigerian state has sent a powerful message. We do not negotiate away justice. The tone of the discussion on journalist hangout was one of cautious triumph. The interview was direct, but Baba was the one who provided the institutional memory, reminding viewers of the no ransom policy that led to the rescue of the kidnapped children. His confidence level was high because he was speaking from a place of investigative depths. He didn't just report the sentence, he explained the why and the how. The political implications are clear. The Nigerian state is proving it can use the rule of law as a weapon against terror by bringing them before a federal high court rather than a military tribunal.

[00:13:01]The government is strengthening the legitimacy of our civilian institutions.

[00:13:06]Now, let's get into the heart of the matter with my personal commentary.

[00:13:10]First off, I have to say that I am deeply impressed by the DSS on this one.

[00:13:14]For years, Nigerians have criticized our security agencies for being reactive rather than proactive. But to track down, arrest and successfully prosecute men who evaded the FBI and the CIA for 13 years, that deserves a standing ovation. It proves that when the DSS is focused on national security rather than political interference, they are among the best in the world. However, here is where the debate gets tricky. The DSS is unhappy with life imprisonment. They want the death penalty. From a purely emotional standpoint, many Nigerians will side with the DSS. When you consider the life lost, the children traumatized and the millions of naira lost to illegal mining used to fund these IEDs, a life sentence feels like a slap on the wrist to some. But let's look at the other side. A guilty plea of often comes with an implicit or explicit understanding of a slightly mitigated sentence. In the legal world, we call this a plea bargain or mitigation. If the judge had handed down a death sentence after a a guilty plea, it might discourage other terrorists from surrendering or pleading guilty in the future, leading to longer, more expensive trial where evidence might be compromised. This case fits into the current landscape where Nigeria is trying to move away from repentant terrorist program that involves simple reintegration towards a more justice-based approach. the fact that no ransom was paid. We have to stop the business of kidnapping in this country and the only way to do that is to make it a very zerorit venture. The length of time it took. 13 years is a long time for criminals of this magnitude to be operating. It makes one wonder how many commanders are still out there.

[00:15:04]Arguments in favor of the life sentence suggest that these men are now intelligence gold mine. Dead men tell no tells but men serving life sentence can eventually be cracked for more information about the remaining anar cells. On the other hand, the argument for the death penalty is about finality and deterance. In my view, this is a win for the country regardless of the specific sentence. For the first time in a long time, we are seeing a big fish the commanders not just the foot soldiers facing music. He tells the remaining insurgents that the Nigerian state has a long memory and a very long arm. To summarize the conviction of Mahmud Usman and Abuaka Abba is a landmark moment. The biggest takeaway here isn't just that two terrorists are going to jail. It is that our intelligence agencies and our court worked in sync to deliver a result that hold up to international scrutiny. This discussion matters because it touches on the very safety of our homes and the integrity of our borders. It forces us to think critically about what justice looks like in a country that has been bled dry by insurgency. Whether they spend their lives behind bars or eventually face a gallows upon appeal.

[00:16:21]The most important thing is that they are no longer in our forest and they are no longer funding the bombs that kills our citizens. If you found this analysis insightful, don't forget to like this video, subscribe to Obash Trending Gist, and turn on the notification bell so you never miss our in-depth political discussion and breaking news analysis. I also want to hear from you. Do you agree with the DSS that these men should face death penalty? Or do you believe life imprisonment is a fair outcome given their guilty plea? Do you think the new negotiation stance of the government is finally working? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comment section below. I'll be reading and responding to as many as I can.