The Federal Government is in a dilemma over the planned trial of 500 Boko Haram suspects who have been kept in military detention facilities since they were arrested in the three north-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. The states are under emergency rule.
The suspects were arrested in Maiduguri, Yola and Damaturu between July and September, 2013.
They were part of the 1,400 detainees screened by the Joint Investigation Team set up by the Defence Headquarters, Abuja and are awaiting trial for offences ranging from terrorism, armed robbery, and murder to drug-related issues.
Their prosecution was expected to hold in Abuja and some other states.
However, investigations showed that since the military announced that it had concluded arrangements for the trial of 500 of the terror suspects, the relevant government agencies had not taken the expected steps to commence their prosecution.
A highly placed security source told our correspondent that the military was still holding the 500 terror suspects because it was awaiting directives from the relevant quarters to effect the recommendation.
The source explained that the military was left with no option but to keep the 500 terror suspects in military detention facilities.
The source who pleaded anonymity said, “There is no prison in the North-East that can hold these high-profile suspects.
“I can also tell you that there is no police facility that can be trusted with holding this class of detainees; that explains why the military cannot release them to these agencies.”
It was further gathered that the planned trial of the suspects was also being stalled by the increasing reluctance of judges and even lawyers in the North to take on Boko Haram-related cases.
In addition, it was learnt that prosecution witnesses are also afraid of coming to testify against the suspects for fear of being killed by the Islamic sect.
The members of the sect had made several attempts to infiltrate the detention facilities and free the terror suspects and these led to some attacks on military bases in Damaturu in Yobe State and Barma and Maiduguri in Borno State.
Among those recommended for trial are some paramilitary and service personnel who were fighting on the side of the terrorists and other individuals who offered direct logistic support to the terrorists, including a medical doctor working with the World Health Organisation.
The Director of Defence Information, General Chris Olukolade, had last month said that the JIT recommended the release of 167 of the detainees from detention in Maiduguri, Yola and Damaturu.
About 614 others whose cases were inconclusive were recommended for review.
He said, “The Joint Investigation Team set up by the Defence Headquarters has recommended the immediate trial of over 500 persons apprehended in the course of security operations against terrorists in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states.
“Those recommended for immediate trial include high-profile suspects, some of whom were training other terrorists in handling weapons, as well as those who confessed to having been trained in Mali and other countries for the purpose of perpetrating terror in Nigeria.
“Also among those recommended for trial are a medical doctor, paramilitary or service personnel who were fighting on the side of the terrorists and other individuals who offered direct logistic support to the terrorists.”
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Ambrose Momoh, said he had no information on the planned prosecution of the terror suspects.
He added that it was only the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, that could comment on it.
But, the Attorney-General of the Federation could not be reached for comments.
A man who identified himself as the Personal Assistant to the Minister, and gave his name as Adams, answered the call to the minister’s line and said his boss was in a meeting.
He promised that he would return the call as soon as he relayed the inquiry to the minster after the meeting. His response did not get to our correspondents as of the time of filing this report. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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