Court frees 475 Boko Haram suspects

The Federal High Court sitting in Wawa Cantonment, Kainji, Niger State, has ordered that about 475 Boko Haram suspects who were released be rehabilitated.

The court also ordered that the accused be sent to their respective states for proper rehabilitation before they are released to their individual families.

The statement issued Sunday by the Special Adviser to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Salihu Othman Isah, read that the suspects were arrested at different states and detained at Wawa Cantonment in Kainji, Niger State.

Isah in the statement disclosed that the detention of the suspects was based on the information that they either belonged to Boko Haram Sect or that they concealed information about the group which could be of material assistance to the government in preventing the act of terrorism or securing apprehension, prosecution or conviction of members of Boko Haram sect.

“However, the prosecution counsel could not charge them for any offence due to lack of sufficient evidence against them.

“Therefore, the suspects were released on motion exparte pursuance to section 35 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the statement read.

The court also directed states to provide rehabilitation facilities at appropriate centres so that the accused be rehabilitated before they are released to their families.

Meanwhile, suspects who were mentally deranged or medically ill were to be provided medical attention at any appropriate medical or other mental health facilities in their states.

“The states were also to provide appropriate training in the manner and for the period that the state deemed appropriate and reasonable”, Isah stated.

The prosecution of about 1000 Boko Haram suspects took place in Kainji last week, during which some members were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms.