A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced an Islamic State West Africa Province commander, Hussaini Ismaila, to 20 years in prison for terrorism offences.

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Tuesday after Ismaila, also known as Mai Tangaran, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on a four-count charge filed by the Department of State Services.

The DSS accused Ismaila of coordinating multiple attacks on police formations in Kano in 2012, including the Police Headquarters in Bompai, the Mobile Police Base on Kabuga Road, Pharm Centre Police Station and Angwa Uku Police Station.

He was arrested on August 31, 2017, in Tsamiyya Babba Village, Gezewa Local Government Area, and arraigned shortly after. The case, however, dragged for years due to interlocutory appeals and a trial-within-trial on his statements.

During the resumed hearing, the prosecution called five witnesses, including DSS operatives and eyewitnesses to the attacks. Ismaila changed his plea after the fifth witness testified.

His lawyer, P. B. Onijah of the Legal Aid Council, appealed for leniency, saying his client was remorseful and opted for a guilty plea to avoid further delays.

Justice Nwite convicted him on all counts and imposed 15 years on count one and 20 years each on counts two, three and four. The sentences will run concurrently, giving him a maximum of 20 years.

The court ordered that the term should count from the day of his arrest in 2017 and directed the Controller-General of the Correctional Service to confine him in any suitable facility.

Justice Nwite further ruled that Ismaila must undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation after completing his prison term before rejoining society.