Court Jails 125 Financiers, Boko Haram Terrorists

The Federal Government revealed on Friday that the reopened mass trial, which took place over two days in Kainji, Niger State, found 125 Boko Haram militants and financiers guilty.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Communication & Publicity, office of the AGF, Kamarudeen Ogundele, noted that the convicts were tried on charges bordering on terrorism, terrorism financing, rendering material support, and cases relating to International Criminal Court criminality.

He said the trials were held under Giwa Project Kanji Phase Five, between Tuesday and Wednesday, before five Federal High Court judges led by Justice Binta Nyako.

Others are Justices Joyce Abdulmalik, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, and Mobolaji Olajuwon.

He added that all 125 of the Boko Haram members were found guilty not the charges brought against them.

The statement read in part “the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is superintending over the trial in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“The prosecution team was led by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, while the defence team was led by Mr Abdulfatai Bakre from the Legal Aids Council” the statement disclosed.

“Others in attendance as international observers are the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes among others.

“The courts convicted 85 persons for terrorism financing, 22 for ICC related crimes while others were convicted for terrorism. They were sentenced to various jail terms.

“It is also noteworthy that 400 defendants who served out their sentences were transferred to Gombe State’s Operation Safe Corridor for the purpose of rehabilitation, deradicalisation, and eventual reintegration.”