The trial of 500 suspects connected to a slew of terror incidents in the nation began on Tuesday at the Abuja Federal High Court.
The individuals were accused of taking part in attacks in the country’s northern regions that resulted in the destruction of houses and the deaths of over 2000 Nigerians.
Others were charged with directly and indirectly sponsoring the horrible acts of terrorism with money, weapons, ammo, and food supplies.
The prosecution team was directed by the Federation’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, with assistance from Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Director of the Federation’s Public Prosecution, DPPF.
With assistance from a number of attorneys, the defense team was directed by Mr. Aliu Bagudu Abubakar, Director of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.
A total of 227 people were put on trial before ten judges of the Federal High Court, according to Fagbemi, who confirmed the Federal Government’s ruling on the case.
He expressed gratitude to the judges for giving up their Easter break to try the suspects.
He claimed that the Federal Government invited members of foreign organizations, like as Amnesty foreign, human rights organizations, and the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, to observe the proceedings in order to guarantee that the trial was transparent and due process of law was observed.
The suspects were transported to court in large trucks under strict guard by police, DSS agents, armed soldiers, and Department of State Service personnel.
Judge Binta Fatima Nyako sentenced Hamatu Modu, a significant food supplier to Boko Haram militants in Borno State, to 40 years in prison for his role in terrorism during one of the trials.
The federal government, acting through the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, put Modu on trial after he admitted in open court to providing food and information to terrorists.
He was given a ten-year prison sentence by Justice Nyako.
Another event was that Justice Nyako sentenced Isah Ali, another food supplier to Boko Haram in Borno, to ten years in prison.
Sheu Buka, a father of three children, was also given a 20-year prison sentence by the court for selling goats to Boko Haram insurgents in Borno.
In a similar vein, Hamza Yahuza, a father of six children, was given a seven-year prison term for providing Indian cigarettes and hemp to Boko Haram insurgents in Borno state.
At the conclusion of their incarceration, Justice Nyako mandated that the prisoners undergo radicalization and rehabilitation.
It was mandated that the Federal Ministry of Interior decide where the prisoners would be imprisoned.
The proceedings will resume on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in the interim.
