The trial of suspected Boko Haram members in the Kainji Prosecution Project Phase IV by the Federal Government, yesterday, resumed in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening of the court session, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the first phase commenced in 2017.
Fagbemi said the Federal Government, in the 2017 trial, secured 366 convictions, while 896 others were discharged for lack of evidence, and 61 cases adjourned for further hearings.
He said resumption in the prosecution of terrorism suspects marked another step in the journey of ensuring the security and safety of Nigeria and Nigerians.
According to him, security is a duty of utmost importance to all Nigerians, and a primary duty of government.
He said: “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. 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 its people,” he said.
Fagbemi said prosecution is one of the end processes of criminal justice administration, assuring that the Federal Government would deploy resources to enhance its prosecutorial capacities.
He said the ministry would continue to support efforts towards deradicalisation and reintegration of repentant terrorists.
“We have made tremendous efforts to ensure that the trials are conducted with due regard to provisions of the Constitution regarding openness as much as can be permitted, and in the circumstances provide the suspects with adequate opportunities to make their defence.”
“I would like to urge the prosecutors and defence counsel to continue to maintain the highest levels of professional standards in this national assignment,” Fagbemi said.
On his part, the Director, Criminal Justice, Legal Aid Council, Abdulfattah Bakre, said the council had the consent of the defendants to represent them in the case.
Bakre promised to cooperate with the prosecution while representing the defendants to ensure quick dispensation of justice in the case.
“We are happy that this trial is resuming after such a long time and we are glad that the defendants will have the opportunity to be heard. We are representing them based on their trust and not on the instruction of the Federal Government.
“We were in Kainji some years ago, and also recently, we were in Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, where we interacted with them, and we have been fully instructed to represent them,” he said.
