The Federal Government says it has secured the convictions of more than 125 Boko Haram militants and their financial backers at a two-day mass trial conducted in Kainji, Niger State, during the week.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), announced in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Kamarudeen Ogundele, that the convicts were found guilty of charges including acts of criminality recognized by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Both the AGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) superintended the special court sessions that resulted in the defendants’ conviction.
A panel of five Federal High Court judges, led by Justice Binta Nyako and including Justices Joyce Abdulmalik, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, and Mobolaji Olajuwon, presided over the trials, which took place from Tuesday to Wednesday under the Giwa Project Kainji Phase Five.
Mr. Abdulfatai Bakre from the Legal Aids Council led the defence team, while Mr. Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, the Federation’s Director of Public Prosecution, led the prosecution team.
The proceedings were observed by international delegations from esteemed organizations, including the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The courts delivered convictions for various crimes, with 85 individuals found guilty of financing terrorism, 22 convicted of crimes related to the ICC, and the remaining persons convicted of terrorism offences.
The convicts got varying jail sentences.
The AGF also announced that 400 convicts who have served their sentences have been relocated to the Operation Safe Corridor facility in Gombe State for the purpose of rehabilitation, deradicalization, and eventual reintegration into their communities.
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