A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Mahmud Usman, identified as a commander of the banned terrorist group Ansaru, to 15 years in prison for illegal mining.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the ruling on Thursday after Usman admitted guilt to the charge.
Prosecutors told the court that proceeds from the mining operations were used to purchase weapons for terrorism and kidnapping.
The court also ordered that Usman remain in the custody of the Department of State Services while he faces trial on 31 additional counts filed by the Federal Government.
His case was adjourned to October 21.
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Usman and another defendant, Abubakar Abba, are standing trial on a 32-count charge.
Authorities accuse them of coordinating terrorist activities, including the 2022 attack on the Nigerian Army’s Wawa Cantonment in Kainji, Niger State.
They were also said to have masterminded the July 2022 invasion of Kuje prison that freed over 600 inmates.
The prosecution further alleged that the pair received combat and explosives training from terror camps in Mali.
They are also linked to high-profile kidnappings, such as the abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in 2013.
They were further tied to the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura.
Other charges against them include armed robbery and related crimes
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