BEVERLY HILLS, February 18, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court in Wawa Cantonment, Kainji, Niger State, has ordered the release of 475 Boko Haram suspects.
The specially-convened court, which is handling the trial of about 1,000 Boko Haram suspects, ordered that those released should be sent to their state governments for proper rehabilitation.
This was revealed in a statement by Salihu Othman, Media aide to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Isah said the suspects were arrested at different states and were detained at Wawa Cantonment based on the information that they belonged to the terrorist group Boko Haram.
their release was upon
Isah said the prosecution sought their release via a motion ex-parte filed by the prosecution pursuant to Section 35 (4) of the Constitution because it could not charge them with any offence due to lack of sufficient evidence against them.
“The court also directed states to provide for the released persons, rehabilitation at any appropriate centre provided by the states before being released to their families,” the statement read.
“Those suspects who suffer from mental or other health challenges are to be provided with necessary medical assistance at appropriate medical facilities.
“The states are also to provide appropriate training in the manner and for the period that the state deemed appropriate and reasonable.
“Among the list of the group released was a pathetic case of a female suspect, Lubabatu Yakubu who was arrested in 2014, two days after marriage and divorced by her Boko Haram husband.
“Also freed was a young mother, with her three months old baby, Mariam Mohammed, said to be a Shua Arab from Borno State
“She was said to have been lured into the Boko Haram sect and taken to Sambisa forest by her elder brother and married off to his friend at eleven years old.
“Taye Hamza and Kehinde Hamza are identical twins from Oyo State. They were based in Bauchi State. They were among the lucky ones released.
“The twins who were said to be motor mechanics, were arrested in 2010 by the DSS at their workshop in Bauchi State for servicing a vehicle belonging to a Boko Haram member.”
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