Trial of 500 terror suspects opens
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja A high-stakes mass trial of terrorism suspects opened yesterday in Abuja under an unusually tight security cordon, signalling a major push by the Federal Government to
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
A high-stakes mass trial of terrorism suspects opened yesterday in Abuja under an unusually tight security cordon, signalling a major push by the Federal Government to fast-track long-delayed cases linked to insurgency in the North.
There was a heavy security presence in and around the Federal High Court headquarters as the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation commenced the prosecution of about 500 terrorism suspects.
As early as 7am, armed soldiers and police personnel had mobilised to the entrance of the court building, where about four armoured vehicles were stationed.
They were supported by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), while movement in and out of the court premises was restricted.
The heavy deployment of security personnel coincided with an event at Eagle Square, a short distance away.
This resulted in the disruption of traffic flow on Shehu Shagari Way and Ahmadu Bello Way, forcing many commuters to trek long distances.
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About 10 judges conducted simultaneous proceedings in different courtrooms within the Federal High Court complex in cases involving about 227 defendants.
The defendants were accused of involvement in terrorist activities in the northern part of the country, where more than 2,000 people are estimated to have been killed and property destroyed.
Others were accused of aiding and abetting terrorism through direct and indirect sponsorship, including the provision of funds, arms, ammunition and foodstuffs.
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Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), led the prosecuting team, which included the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
Director-General of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACN), Aliyu Abubakar, led the defence team, which included some private lawyers.
Fagbemi said the Federal Government authorised the mass prosecution.
A total of 227 suspects were arraigned before 10 judges.
The AGF hailed the judges for foregoing their Easter vacation to conduct the trials.
He said that, as part of the government’s commitment to transparency and due process, representatives of groups such as Amnesty International and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), among others, were permitted to observe proceedings.
Some of the judges handling the cases are Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman and Akpan Ekerete.
Fagbemi conducted the prosecution’s case before Justice Nyako, where about 20 defendants featured on the cause list for the day.
They included Hamat Modu, Isah Ali, Awal Bello, Shehu Bukar, Alhaji Kulle, Mohammed Abacha Hassan, Aminami Mallum, Tasiu Yakubu and Abdullahi Ali.
In one of the cases, Justice Nyako sentenced Modu, described as a major foodstuffs supplier to Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State, to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Modu pleaded guilty to a four-count charge in which he was accused of supplying food items and information to terrorists.
Based on his guilty plea and the allocutus by the defence, Justice Nyako sentenced him to 10 years on each of the four counts, to run concurrently.
Also, Isah Ali, equally accused of supplying food items to terrorists in Borno State, was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty.
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The judge ordered that his sentence should take effect from 2023, when he was arrested and detained.
Justice Nyako also sentenced Abdullahi Ali to 20 years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge.
Ali was accused of supporting the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) through the supply of fuel.
The court ordered that his sentence should commence from November 20, 2023, the date of his arrest.
A father of three, Shehu Bukar, was also sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for selling goats to Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
Bukar was arraigned on a five-count charge but pleaded guilty to only one count.
The prosecution withdrew the remaining counts and urged the court to convict him on the count to which he pleaded guilty.
In her judgment, Justice Nyako said she considered the defendant’s confessional statement, guilty plea and the investigation report.
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She declined his plea for leniency, noting that terrorism had become a serious concern across the country.
The judge said rendering support to terrorists is a grave offence that must not be condoned, and accordingly sentenced him to 20 years.
Also, a 40-year-old father of six, Hamza Yahuza, was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to a one-count charge of supplying drugs, including Indian hemp and cigarettes, to Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
Yahuza admitted committing the offence in 2023, during which he supplied drugs to terrorists in parts of Monguno Local Government Area of the state.
In her judgment, Justice Nyako rejected his plea for leniency and his claim that poverty drove him into the crime.
She ordered that his seven-year sentence should begin from March 6, 2023, the date of his arrest.
The judge also directed that all convicted persons should undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation after serving their jail terms.
She further ordered that the Federal Ministry of Interior would determine the correctional facilities where the convicts would serve their sentences.
Hearing in other cases continues today.
