By Emmanuel Obisue
The Federal Government on Tuesday commenced the trial of 20 suspected terrorists at the Federal High Court, marking a shift from the usual venue at the Kainji military cantonment in Niger State.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the proceedings were moved to Abuja due to the court’s Easter vacation, which began on April 7 and is expected to end on April 13, with regular sittings scheduled to resume on April 14 across all divisions of the court.
No fewer than 13 courts within the Abuja division are currently handling terrorism-related cases, underscoring the scale of ongoing prosecutions by the Federal Government.
Among the judges presiding over the cases are Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman and Akpan Ekerete.
The prosecution team is led by Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, while the defence team is headed by Aliyu Abubakar, Director-General of the Legal Aid Council.
Some of the suspects listed for arraignment include Hamat Modu, Isah Ali, Awal Bello, Shehu Bukar, Alhaji Kulle, Mohammed Abacha Hassan, Aminami Mallum, Tasiu Yakubu and Abdullahi Ali, among others.
Security was significantly heightened in and around the court, with armed personnel stationed at strategic points and major roads leading to the court blocked. Police helicopters were also seen patrolling the Central Business District of Abuja during the proceedings.
The mass trial of terrorism suspects has been a key component of Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy, particularly in addressing cases linked to insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province. Over the years, authorities have relied on special court arrangements, including sittings within military facilities, to expedite trials while ensuring security.
