The Nyanya Motor Park bombing case reached its final judgement at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, as Justice James Omotosho sentenced 37-year-old Zakaria Garba to death by hanging for his involvement in the 2014 terror attack that shocked Nigeria’s capital.
The bombing, which occurred at Nyanya Motor Park in Abuja, claimed more than 70 lives and left several others injured in one of the deadliest attacks recorded in the region.
Garba was convicted after pleading guilty to five terrorism-related charges filed by the Federal Government.
During the proceedings, the court noted that the defendant participated in planning and executing the attack alongside others still at large, using explosive devices targeted at civilians.
Justice Omotosho delivered a mixed set of sentences on the counts against the convict. Garba received 35 years imprisonment on counts one and two, life imprisonment on count three, and death sentences on counts four and five.
After delivering the judgement, Justice Omotosho addressed the convict with a brief remark, saying: “May God have mercy on you.”
The trial, which formed part of a broader terrorism prosecution before the court, was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013.
The case is linked to a mass trial involving multiple defendants accused of participating in coordinated terror activities across different locations in Nigeria.
Several of the co-defendants reportedly received varying jail terms after entering guilty pleas to separate charges.
Reacting after the ruling, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, reaffirmed the government’s resolve to combat terrorism and strengthen national security.
“We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody,” Fagbemi said, stressing continued efforts to prosecute terror-related cases.
The judgement marks another major development in the long-running legal response to the 2014 Nyanya Motor Park explosion, which remains one of the most devastating attacks in the country’s recent history.
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The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, concluded that the evidence and guilty plea were sufficient to impose the maximum penalty under the law.
Authorities say the ruling reinforces Nigeria’s ongoing anti-terrorism campaign and signals continued prosecution of individuals linked to violent extremist attacks.
