125 Boko Haram terrorists, financiers sentenced in mass trial

3 months ago 72

BY ANDREW OROLUA

No fewer than 125 Boko Haram terrorists and financiers have been convicted in the resumed mass trial of suspects held over two days in Kainji, Niger State.

They were convicted of charges bordering on terrorism, terrorism financing, rendering material support and cases relating to International Criminal Court (ICC) criminality.

A statement signed by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Assistance to the President on Communication & Publicity,

Office of the Attorney General of the Federation stated that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is superintending over the trial in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The trials held under Giwa Project Kanji Phase Five between Tuesday and Wednesday were before five Federal High Court judges led by Justice Binta Nyako.

Others are Justices Joyce Abdulmalik, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu and Mobolaji Olajuwon.

The prosecution team was led by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, while the defence team was led by Mr Abdulfatai Bakre from the Legal Aids Council.

Others in attendance as international observers are the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) etc.

“The courts convicted 85 persons for terrorism financing, 22 for ICC related crimes while others were convicted for terrorism.

“It is also noteworthy that 400 defendants who have completed their sentence have also been moved to Operation Safe Corridor, Gombe for rehabilitation, deradicalisation and subsequent reintegration,” it stated.