The Federal Government on Monday kicked off another round of mass trials for hundreds of suspected terrorists in Abuja. More than 600 suspects are facing charges this time around.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is leading the prosecution. The Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, heads the defence team. The trials are happening in several courtrooms at the same time and are expected to last one week.
This is the fourth phase of terrorism trials under the current administration. In April, about 500 suspects were tried between April 7 and April 10.
Fagbemi told journalists that the government is serious about fighting terrorism. "The message is clear, direct and straightforward. It is that the present administration isn't taking the issue of terrorism with levity," he said.
He added: "Since the inception of this administration, this is about the fourth phase that we're undertaking. So the message is that let everybody know that terrorism in whatever form or shape won't be tolerated. We'll fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody."
Breaking down the numbers, Fagbemi said about 490 suspects were scheduled for Monday, while 84 more would be tried on Tuesday. That 84 doesn't include 102 suspects carried forward from the last phase. So in total, over 600 suspects will be processed this week.
The judges handling the cases include Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman, James Omotosho, Obiora Egwuatu and Ekerete Akpan.
On Monday, at least 58 suspects were listed for trial before Justice Nwite. Among them are Abba Bukar, Abba Manye, Gujja Mala Bukar, Brem Gonimi, Isa Mohammed, Lawali Dashiri Danke, Yau Tukur (also known as Mai-Auduga), and Bello Liman, also called Bell Doctor.
Two suspects were convicted and sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty.
Justice Binta Nyako sentenced a 55-year-old farmer from Katara village in Borno State, Ali Mustapha, to 15 years in prison. He was convicted for concealing information about Boko Haram activities. Mustapha told the court there were no government officials or security agencies in his remote community to report to. Nyako ordered that his sentence start from 2013, when he was first arrested and detained.
In another case, the same judge sentenced Isa Isiaka, a father of 11 children and husband of two wives, to 20 years in prison for failing to disclose information about Boko Haram activities. Isiaka pleaded guilty to terrorism charges filed by the Attorney-General. Nyako rejected his plea for leniency and gave him 20 years without an option of fine.
The mass trials are part of the government's broader strategy to tackle insecurity across Nigeria by prosecuting people accused of terrorism, insurgency and related offences.