Federal Government Set To Begin Trial For Boko Haram Suspects
After months and in some cases years of the arrest of Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram suspects all over the country, a statement issued yesterday from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, stated that the arraignment of suspects in various detention facilities across the country would begin on Monday, October 9.
The AGF stated that so far, 13 cases have been concluded, nine convictions secured, while 33 cases are still on going at various Federal High Court divisions. Also, 116 cases are awaiting trial in Kainji.
Malami also put the number of detainees recommended for release and deradicalisation programme for want of evidence at 220. Those profiled at the Kainji detention facility, awaiting judicial proceedings and deradicalisation programme were put at 1670 while those remanded at the Federal High Court, Maiduguri and transferred from Giwa Barracks to Maiduguri Prisons were 651.
The AGF listed some of the challenges affecting prosecution of the alleged Boko Haram members, to include poorly investigated case files due to pressure during the peak of conflict at the theatre.
Others are, over reliance on confession based evidence, lack of forensic evidence, absence of cooperation between investigators and prosecutors at pre-investigation stages as well as poor logistical facilities to transport defendants from detention facility to court for trial.
The AGF also listed scarcity of skilled or trained forensic personnel to handle investigation of complex cases inadequate security for counsel handling terrorism cases as well as conversion of military intelligence to admissible evidence.
The statement further read that the AGF has approved the list of prosecutors to handle the cases while the Legal Aid Council has equally released a list of defence counsels to stand in for the detainees/defendants.
