The prosecution of suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria resumed on Monday after a five-year hiatus, local media reported with no evidence of the court proceedings, but assurances from a top government official.
Suspects arrested across different parts of Nigeria – some of whom have been in detention since the Boko Haram crisis started in 2009 –purportedly are facing trial for alleged involvement in acts of terrorism against the country.
The trial began in October 2017 while subsequent ones followed in February and July 2018. At the time, the UN Human Rights Watch (HRW) highlighted critical legal shortcomings in the trials, including trials “shrouded in secrecy.”
Nigeria’s minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the resumption of the trial is a giant step the government is taking to ensure the security and safety of citizens. Yet, there is no verifiable report of how many suspects were prosecuted during Monday’s proceedings. It was reportedly held at a remote military base in Kainji, Niger State.
Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/breaking-fg-resumes-suspected-boko-haram-members-trial/
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
