AfriqueCAN
THE Federal Government Tuesday opened the trial of 500 suspects implicated in a series of terror attacks in the country.
The suspects, paraded at the Abuja Federal High Court, were alleged to have participated in attacks in the northern parts of the country where more than 2000 Nigerians have been killed and properties destroyed.
Others were accused of aiding and abetting the heinous terrorism through direct and indirect sponsorship with either finance, arms and ammunition as well as foodstuffs supplies.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, supported by the Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, led the prosecution team.
The Director of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria Mr Aliu Bagudu Abubakar led the defense team with support from several lawyers.
Fagbemi, who confirmed the decision of the Federal Government on the trial revealed that a total of 227 suspects were put on trial before 10 judges of the Federal High Court.
The Attorney General of the Federation thanked the judges for sacrificing their Easter holiday to conduct the trial of the suspects.
To ensure that the trial was transparent and due process of law followed, he said that the Federal Government brought in representatives of the international bodies including Amnesty International, human rights associations and the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, to witness the proceedings.
