The federal government on Monday resumed the trial of suspected Boko Haram members in the Kainji Prosecution Project Phase IV in Abuja.

Speaking at the opening of the court session, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the first phase commenced in 2017.

Mr 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 the resumption of the prosecution of terrorism suspects marked another step in ensuring the security and safety of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“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.

Mr Fagbemi said the federal government would deploy resources to enhance its prosecutorial capacities.

He added that the ministry would continue to support efforts towards the deradicalisation and reintegration of repentant terrorists.

“I would like to urge the prosecutors and defence counsel to continue to maintain the highest levels of professional standards in this national assignment,” Mr Fagbemi added.

On his part, the Director of Criminal Justice, Legal Aid Council, Abdulfattah Bakre, said they had the consent of the defendants to represent them in the case.

“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.

The National Human Rights Commission representative said they would ensure the defendants’ rights were respected during the trial.

The Attorney General personally commenced the prosecution of the suspects at the resumed hearing on Monday.

The trial is being presided over by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, said the resumption of the trial was in line with Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law and human rights-based approach to countering terrorism.

(NAN)