The Federal Goverment, through the Attorney General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, (SAN) will on
Monday (today) resume the trial of suspected Boko Haram insurgents
detained in various locations of the country.
A press statement by the Special Adviser to the AGF on Media and
Publicity, Mr. Salihu Isah, said on Sunday that the second phase of
the trial at the Kainji detention facility in Niger State would
begin on Monday (today).
The statement said “Resumption of trial arose from the
conclusion of investigation of over 1,000 suspects as ordered by
the court during its proceedings of October 2017 by the Office of
the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice.”
He explained that suspects with prima facie cases would be
prosecuted, while others without it would have applications made
for their discharge.
According to him, “those discharged will undergo a process of
de-radicalisation.”
Isah said the de-radicalisation exercise would be conducted by
the Office of the National Security Adviser the concerned suspects
would be released to their various families.
He added, “Recall, this exercise which is a concerted effort of
the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Office of the National
Security Adviser kicked off in Kainji, Niger State on Monday,
October 9, 2017.
“Four judges were allocated to four dedicated courts to handle
the trial located in a military facility in Kainji while defence
counsel were provided for those suspects without capacity to hire
private legal practitioners to defend them.
“Unlike the first phase which was restricted, this phase is
opened with some civil society groups, including human rights
organisation and journalists invited to witness the
proceedings.
“Already, about 82 Boko Haram detainees have so far benefitted
from the Federal Government’s window to plead guilty to secure low
jail terms or unconditional release which is part of President
Muhammadu Buhari administration’s concerted effort to boost its
human right records and decongest the nation’s prisons.
“As a result, about 45 convictions have also been pronounced by
the trial judges in the four syndicated courts established by then
acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Abdu
Kafarati. The various Boko Haram suspects were sentenced to jail
terms ranging from two years to 15 years and with most of them
backdated to the date of their detention.
“There are four categories of suspects at the Kainji detention
facility who are classified as Boko Haram suspects who were
hitherto investigated by the Joint Investigation Team set up by the
Defence Headquarters otherwise known as DHQ/JIT.
“The case files of the suspected insurgents were then
transmitted to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation
and after a careful review of the cases based on their individual
merit, it was discovered that they have no prima facie cases that
will sustain a charge against them in any court of law.
“As a result, they were recommended for release and hand over to
the Office of the National Security Adviser for rehabilitation
and/or de-radicalisation.
“The second category is the set of suspects that the Honourable
Attorney General established prima facie cases against and charges
already filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division who are
also mostly in the detention facility under reference and may be
willing to plead guilty for a lesser sentences.
“The third category are the suspects whose case files are either
recommended for further investigation or that have no investigation
conducted on them at all hence they do not have case files that
will warrant the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to
form any opinion in respect of their case.
“Also, the fourth category is that of the suspects whose cases
were reviewed and a prima facie were found and may be willing to
opt for a full trial.”
The Federal Goverment, through the Attorney General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, (SAN) will on
Monday (today) resume the trial of suspected Boko Haram insurgents
detained in various locations of the country.
A press statement by the Special Adviser to the AGF on Media and
Publicity, Mr. Salihu Isah, said on Sunday that the second phase of
the trial at the Kainji detention facility in Niger State would
begin on Monday (today).
The statement said “Resumption of trial arose from the
conclusion of investigation of over 1,000 suspects as ordered by
the court during its proceedings of October 2017 by the Office of
the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice.”
He explained that suspects with prima facie cases would be
prosecuted, while others without it would have applications made
for their discharge.
According to him, “those discharged will undergo a process of
de-radicalisation.”
Isah said the de-radicalisation exercise would be conducted by
the Office of the National Security Adviser the concerned suspects
would be released to their various families.
He added, “Recall, this exercise which is a concerted effort of
the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Office of the National
Security Adviser kicked off in Kainji, Niger State on Monday,
October 9, 2017.
“Four judges were allocated to four dedicated courts to handle
the trial located in a military facility in Kainji while defence
counsel were provided for those suspects without capacity to hire
private legal practitioners to defend them.
“Unlike the first phase which was restricted, this phase is
opened with some civil society groups, including human rights
organisation and journalists invited to witness the
proceedings.
“Already, about 82 Boko Haram detainees have so far benefitted
from the Federal Government’s window to plead guilty to secure low
jail terms or unconditional release which is part of President
Muhammadu Buhari administration’s concerted effort to boost its
human right records and decongest the nation’s prisons.
“As a result, about 45 convictions have also been pronounced by
the trial judges in the four syndicated courts established by then
acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Abdu
Kafarati. The various Boko Haram suspects were sentenced to jail
terms ranging from two years to 15 years and with most of them
backdated to the date of their detention.
“There are four categories of suspects at the Kainji detention
facility who are classified as Boko Haram suspects who were
hitherto investigated by the Joint Investigation Team set up by the
Defence Headquarters otherwise known as DHQ/JIT.
“The case files of the suspected insurgents were then
transmitted to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation
and after a careful review of the cases based on their individual
merit, it was discovered that they have no prima facie cases that
will sustain a charge against them in any court of law.
“As a result, they were recommended for release and hand over to
the Office of the National Security Adviser for rehabilitation
and/or de-radicalisation.
“The second category is the set of suspects that the Honourable
Attorney General established prima facie cases against and charges
already filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division who are
also mostly in the detention facility under reference and may be
willing to plead guilty for a lesser sentences.
“The third category are the suspects whose case files are either
recommended for further investigation or that have no investigation
conducted on them at all hence they do not have case files that
will warrant the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to
form any opinion in respect of their case.
“Also, the fourth category is that of the suspects whose cases
were reviewed and a prima facie were found and may be willing to
opt for a full trial.”
Read more https://nairalaw.com/trial-of-fresh-1000-boko-haram-suspects-begins-today/