Convicted Boko Haram

bomber, Kabiru Sokoto, has appealed his terrorism conviction by the Federal High Court, in Abuja.

Sokoto, through his counsel, Don Akaegbu & Company, filed an application dated May 13, 2026, before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.

Recall that on December 20, 2013, Sokoto was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment over the Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State, which killed at least 37 people and injured 57 others.

It was reported that Sokoto had allegedly been planning to kidnap the children of Kashim Shettima, then governor of Borno State, when he was arrested in January 2012.

He was initially arrested at the Borno State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, before escaping from police custody.

He was later re-arrested a month later in Taraba State.

In the motion on notice, Sokoto’s counsel prayed the Court of Appeal for leave to file his notice of appeal out of time and for the notice already filed to be deemed properly filed and served.

The convict told the court that the delay in filing the appeal was caused by his prolonged incarceration, repeated transfers across different custodial facilities, and the deaths of two lawyers previously handling the case.

“The applicant was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on 20th December, 2013. The applicant has been continuously incarcerated since then.

“The applicant was moved across several custodial centres in different states, making access to counsel extremely difficult,” the court filing read. (Vanguard)