A Federal High Court in Abuja has handed down a devastating 40-year prison sentence to a man who chose to spy for one of Nigeria’s most feared militia leaders — and the verdict is sending a strong message across the nation.
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On Thursday, October 22, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja brought the curtain down on the case of Sunday Frank, sentencing him to four decades in prison after he pleaded guilty to spying for the late notorious Benue militia leader, Terwase Akwaza — widely known and feared across the Middle Belt as “Gana.”
Who Was Gana?
For many Nigerians, particularly those from Benue State and its neighbouring communities, the name Gana needs no introduction. Terwase Akwaza was one of the most dreaded fugitive warlords in Nigeria’s recent history, a man whose name alone sent shivers down the spines of residents across Benue communities. He led a militia that was blamed for countless killings, kidnappings, and destruction across the state before he was eventually killed by security operatives in September 2020 — under circumstances that remain controversial to this day.
The Crime That Cost Sunday Frank His Freedom
Sunday Frank’s downfall was his decision to serve as the eyes and ears of this feared militia leader. By pleading guilty to the charge of espionage in service of Gana’s criminal network, Frank effectively sealed his own fate before the court even deliberated.
The Federal High Court in Abuja wasted no time — 40 years imprisonment was the judgment, a sentence that underscores just how seriously Nigerian authorities are treating crimes connected to militia and insurgent networks.
The Message Is Clear
This verdict is not just about one man’s poor choices. It is a loud warning to anyone across Nigeria who might be tempted to provide intelligence, logistics, or any form of support to criminal and militia groups tearing communities apart.
From the forests of Benue to the creeks of the Niger Delta and the bushes of the North East, the Nigerian justice system is making one thing abundantly clear — if you spy, you pay dearly.
As communities across Benue State continue to rebuild and recover from years of violent conflict, many residents will see this sentence as a small but significant step toward justice and accountability.
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The case serves as a sobering reminder that loyalty to criminals carries consequences — and in Sunday Frank’s case, those consequences will last the next 40 years.
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