Court convicts 125 Boko Haram terrorist, financiers

At least 125 Boko Haram terrorists and financiers have been convicted in the resumed mass trial held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Kainji, Niger State.

They were convicted of terrorism, terrorism financing, rendering material support, and cases relating to International Criminal Court (ICC) criminality.

Eighty five persons were convicted of terrorism financing, 22 of ICC-related crimes while others of terrorism. They were also sentenced to various jail terms.

The trials held under the Giwa Project Kainji Phase Five, were before five Federal High Court judges led by Binta Nyako. Other judges in the trial are Joyce Abdulmalik, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, and Mobolaji Olajuwon.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, is superintending over the trial in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The team of lawyers for the government was led by Mohammed Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, while the defence team was led by Mr Abdulfatai Bakre from the Legal Aids Council.

Others in attendance as international observers are the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC).

In a statement signed by Kamarudeen Ogundele, spokesperson of the Attorney General of the Federation, about 400 persons who have completed their sentence have been moved to Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe State for rehabilitation, de-radicalisation and subsequent reintegration.