The Federal Government on Thursday commenced another phase of mass trials of suspected terrorists at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with dozens of defendants listed for proceedings before multiple judges.
The trials, which are usually conducted at Kainji in Niger State, have shifted to the Federal High Court complex along Shehu Shagari Way in Abuja’s Central Business District, where several courtrooms were engaged in hearing terrorism-related cases.
The proceedings are expected to continue for several days.
Among the judges handling the cases are Justices Binta Nyako, James Omotosho, Salim Ibrahim, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, Hauwa Yilwa, Joyce Abdulmalik and Peter Lifu.
Court records showed that no fewer than 34 suspected terrorists were listed for proceedings before Justice Ibrahim on Thursday, while another 25 defendants appeared on the cause list of Justice Lifu’s court.
Some of the defendants listed for arraignment before Justice Ibrahim included Isah Ismail, Alai Goni, Bulama Lawal, Garba Ibrahim, Mallam Modu Abba Kichi, Lawal Alhaji Mamman and Usman Abubakar.
The Federal Government’s legal team was led by Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, rather than the Attorney-General of the Federation, who usually leads the prosecution team.
On the defence side, Aliyu Abubakar, Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, led the team of lawyers representing the defendants.
The mass trial forms part of the government’s prosecution of suspects facing terrorism-related charges, with multiple judges handling cases simultaneously to accommodate the large number of defendants.
However, the court proceedings and the charges against individual defendants will determine the specific allegations each suspect must answer.
