Court sends 125 Boko Haram terrorists, financiers to prison

In a significant legal development, a court in Kainji town, Niger State, has convicted 125 individuals linked to Boko Haram, including both terrorists and their financiers.

The trials, which took place over two days, addressed charges such as terrorism, financing terrorism, providing material support, and violations related to International Criminal Court (ICC) statutes.

The proceedings were overseen by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The court sessions, part of the Giwa Project Kanji Phase Five initiative, were conducted before a panel of five Federal High Court judges, led by Justice Binta Nyako, alongside Justices Joyce Abdulmalik, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, and Mobolaji Olajuwon.

The prosecution was managed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, with Mr. Abdulfatai Bakre from the Legal Aids Council representing the defense.

The trials were also observed by representatives from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC).

The court’s verdicts included convictions for 85 individuals on charges of terrorism financing, 22 for crimes related to the ICC, and others for terrorism. Sentences varied based on individual cases. Additionally, 400 defendants who have completed their sentences have been transferred to Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe State for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.