The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), has revealed that some high profile cases relating to Boko Haram suspects have been delayed due to absence of witnesses.
In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Mr Salihu Isah, the AGF said the cases have been transferred to the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to continue in January 2018.
He further disclosed that 468 detained suspects have been discharged for want of evidence and 34 cases were struck out while 28 suspects were remanded in prison for trial in Abuja and Minna.
Quoting from an official interim report from the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. Muhammad Etsu, to the AGF, dated Friday, October 13, 2017.
“It was discovered that some contentious high profile cases could not proceed due to the absent of relevant witnesses in respect thereof, and such cases were consequently adjourned to January, 2018 for trial in Abuja division of the Federal High Court.
“It may interest you to note that during the proceedings, some of the defendants were discovered to be standing trial before the Federal High Court, the Bauchi Division, of which some cases have reached concluding stage.
“In respect of this, the court made an order of transfer of these defendants to Bauchi for the conclusion of their trials. Details of these cases shall also be forwarded in my final report.”
Justice Abubakar had announced that the prosecution for the trial of the 1,670 Boko Haram suspects in Wada Barracks, Kainji will begin on 0ctober 9.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said in a statement on Friday, that the Federal High Court, sitting in Kainji, Niger State, has convicted and sentenced 45 Boko Haram members to imprisonment between three to 31 years as the first phase reached it conclusion.
