The Federal Government is preparing to initiate the trial of approximately 2,000 individuals associated with the extremist group Boko Haram, who have been arrested for their involvement in acts of terrorism, News About Nigeria reports.
To oversee this special trial, eight judges have been selected.
The proceedings will take place in Kainji, Niger State, within a secure environment provided by Operation Safe Corridor, a specialized security outfit.
Many of the suspects are already detained in the facility.
According to sources from the security sector and the Ministry of Justice, the planning for the trial had been completed during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, logistical issues hindered its implementation.
The Ministry of Justice requested assistance from the Nigerian Air Force to transport the judges and lawyers who would act as prosecutors and defense counsel for the suspects.
Unfortunately, a positive response from the air force was not received, causing a delay in the commencement of the trial.
An official from the Ministry of Justice revealed, “We have taken steps to try the suspects, and we have written to the air force to assist us with logistics. We are awaiting the Chief Justice to give us a date for the commencement of the trial.”
The official also mentioned that around 1,000 suspects would be transferred to Operation Safe Corridor for rehabilitation, while approximately 2,000 individuals would face trial for their involvement in Boko Haram’s violent attacks across the North, particularly in the North-East region.
Regarding the timeline for the prosecution, the official stated, “We do not have a timeline. The judges assigned to these cases will also handle their regular cases. We usually stagger the trial, spending two weeks at a time. Once we start, we will be able to determine how long it will take to dispose of all the cases.” The official emphasized that as long as the insurgency continues and more suspects are arrested, additional individuals may face trial.
Addressing the issue of judges, the official clarified that eight judges had been designated for the trial, but it was uncertain whether all eight would preside simultaneously. Due to ongoing cases, it is impractical to assign judges exclusively to the Boko Haram trial.
However, the official expressed confidence in the arrangement, even though the prosecutors would face challenges if the lawyers were relocated to Kainji for an extended period.
