Terrorism: FG resumes trial of Boko Haram suspects

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

Boko Haram suspects currently being held at military facilities in Kainji Niger State by March 2023 " >The federal government has revealed that adequate preparations are being made for the resumption of the second phase of the prosecution of Boko Haram suspects currently being held at military facilities in Kainji, Niger State, by March 2023.

Muhammadu Buhari for the provision of funds and other logistics for the start of the exercise " >The Ministry had recently recognized the special intervention granted by President Muhammadu Buhari for the provision of funds and other logistics for the start of the exercise.

The Federation Attorney General and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Ms. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, who revealed this over the weekend, said that extensive plans and preparations for the resumption of the prosecution of suspected Boko Haram have already been advanced. suspects

Federal Government s commitment to administer justice ease the feelings of victims survivors and decongest detention facilities was firm and irreversible " >He told reporters in Abuja that the Federal Government’s commitment to administer justice, ease the feelings of victims/survivors and decongest detention facilities was firm and irreversible.

He explained that the public interest in the trial was expected, noting that the apparent delay in the trial of the defendants could be attributed to mitigating factors related to diligent investigation and, more importantly, the need to establish the proper infrastructure. and the steps necessary for a proper and proper trial. fair trials to meet minimum global standards.

According to her, “the government is taking steps to reconfigure military detention facilities so that they are adaptable and conducive to the resumption of trials, maintaining that there is an overriding official commitment to ensure that the atmosphere and environment of the trial site is adjust to the best conditions”. global practices.

“We will start the prosecution at the end of the first quarter of 2023. We are in the process of renovating and actually rebuilding facilities such as courtrooms and residential areas.

“It is important to ensure that improved measures are put in place. We are using military facilities and therefore they were not built as proper courts. The resort to the use of military installations is to ensure that the trials take place in a safe and secure environment. There are risks associated with moving such a large number of defendants at the same time for trial, so this is a critical issue that is of the utmost concern.

CDS and other military authorities to guarantee that by the end of the first quarter of 2023 definitively begin the trials he said " >“We have obtained all the relevant approvals to proceed with the projects and we are working very closely with the Office of the Chief of the Defense Staff (CDS) and other military authorities to guarantee that by the end of the first quarter of 2023, definitively begin the trials,” he said.

Responding to a question about the preparation of Federal Government prosecutors to commit to best practices, especially the observance of the rights of accused persons, Ms. Jedy-Agba said that the Federal Ministry of Justice was so concerned about the pain and the plight of victims of terrorism, as it is sensitive to the rights of defendants in upcoming trials.

“The general idea is to ensure that while we respect the rights of the accused, we must also take into account the sensitivity of Nigerians who have been victims of terrorism, as well as the general security of Nigerians as a whole.

NHRC We are working with the Legal Aid Council LAC and other stakeholders to ensure that accused persons have access to justice " >“Therefore, we will ensure, to the extent possible, that the minimum human rights requirements are met. We will open the trial site for comment from selected civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as human rights institutions, such as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). We are working with the Legal Aid Council (LAC) and other stakeholders to ensure that accused persons have access to justice.

“Obviously we are not going to open the place for security reasons. I’m sure you are aware that recently, like a few weeks ago, there was an attempt to attack the facility. So obviously it’s not going to be as open as they’d like, because we want to ensure that the safety of our judges, witnesses and interpreters is protected,” he added.

He said the number of defendants in the upcoming trial was huge and appreciable and he was not in a position to give the specific number as arrests continued to be made on a daily basis in the fight against terrorism.

“I don’t want to be specific on that, because the number changes every time, as security agencies keep making arrests. I can’t say for sure how many at this time. But it is quite a considerable number,” he said.

Credit: https://www.sunnewsonline.com/terrorism-fg-resumes-trial-of-boko-haram-suspects-march-sgf-jedy-agba/