The Federal Government announced on Friday that 125 Boko Haram terrorists and their financiers were convicted during a two-day mass trial in Kainji, Niger State.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), through a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Communication & Publicity, Kamarudeen Ogundele, confirmed that the convictions were for charges related to terrorism, financing terrorism, providing material support, and crimes under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
The trials, part of Giwa Project Kanji Phase Five, took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, presided over by five Federal High Court judges: Justice Binta Nyako, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, Justice Emeka Nwite, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, and Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon. All 125 Boko Haram members were found guilty of the charges.
The statement emphasized that Fagbemi supervised the trial in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser. The prosecution was led by Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, while Abdulfatai Bakre from the Legal Aid Council led the defense.
International observers included the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The convictions included 85 individuals for financing terrorism, 22 for crimes related to the ICC, and others for various terrorism charges. The convicted individuals received various prison sentences.
Additionally, 400 defendants who have completed their sentences have been transferred to Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe State for rehabilitation, deradicalization, and reintegration.
(Punch)