A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a man, Muhammad Sani, to 20 years' imprisonment for withholding information about the activities of an alleged notorious bandit and engaging in terrorism-related offences.

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment after convicting Sani on two counts bordering on offences under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Sani, who was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in January 2023, had been arraigned on a four-count charge.

According to the charge, the DSS accused Sani of concealing information about an alleged notorious bandit identified as Danranmi, who was said to be supplying arms and ammunition to kidnappers and bandits operating in and around Niger State.

The prosecution told the court that Sani failed to disclose information that could have aided the suspect's arrest, contrary to Section 16(1)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The DSS further alleged that Sani received N580,000 from Danranmi to purchase 150 rounds of ammunition from a man identified as "Chairman", despite having reasonable grounds to believe the ammunition would be used to commit offences under the Act.

Justice Nwite found Sani guilty on counts one and two of the four-count charge and sentenced him to 20 years' imprisonment on each count without the option of a fine.

The court ordered that the sentence should take effect from January 11, 2023, the date of his arrest, and directed that he serve the jail term at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.