The trial of individuals believed to be members of Boko Haram has been reinstated by the federal government.
The trial is being held in Niger State at the Kainji Prosecution Project Phase IV.
The first phase started in 2017, according to Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who spoke at the start of the court session in Niger on Monday.
He said that the FG had obtained 366 convictions overall in the 2017 trial, with 896 more people being found not guilty due to insufficient evidence.
Furthermore, according to Fagbemi, 61 more cases were postponed for additional hearings.
He said, “It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this special event marking the resumption of the prosecution of terrorism suspects.
“This day is special for many reasons. First, the day marks yet another step forward in the journey of ensuring the security and safety of Nigeria and Nigerians, a duty that is of utmost importance to all of us gathered here, as it is the primary duty of the government to ensure the security and welfare of its citizens.
“I must acknowledge the fact that we have come a long way in this initiative. The first phase of the Kainji Prosecution Project commenced in October 2017 with remarkable achievements: we recorded a total of 366 convictions, 896 others were discharged for lack of sufficient evidence, and 61 other cases were adjourned for further hearing.
“There have been three phases of the exercise so far, spanning between October 2017 and July 2018. I must, at this point, challenge all stakeholders to ensure that the momentum is sustained, seeing how important this assignment is to the wellbeing of our beloved country and her people.”
