Judge Threatens To Discharge 24 Boko Haram Suspects.

Yesterday, in the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Abdul Kafarati, threatened to discharge the 24 suspected Boko Haram members standing trial before the court. The judge, while granting the Police a further adjournment lambasted the prosecution counsel for lack of diligence in prosecuting the case.

The judge said, “I should have discharged the accused persons today, but I am compelled by justice to restrain such action and allow the prosecution one last chance.

The court had adjourned this matter four times at the instance of the prosecutor, who had always promised to bring his witnesses to court but failed each time.

I shall, therefore, discharge the accused persons should the prosecution fail to bring the witnesses to court on the next adjourned date.

The prosecution was ordered to avail the accused persons’ lawyers’ proof of evidence.

It is against the court procedure not to do that a year after the accused persons were arraigned.”

The suspects includes , but not limited to, Umar Alia (21), Musa Yakubu Gava (38), Awalu Mohammed (35), Modu Bama (36), Yakubu Modu Kolibe (15), Mohammed Alhaji Modu (23), Badare Hassan (27), Mohammed Umar (21) and Mohammed Sheriff (23).

The aforelisted accused were alleged to have conspired to commit felony and act of terrorism in Maiduguri.

The prosecution held that the accused committed an offence punishable under Section 33(1) (b) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2011, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Thirteen months after the police arraigned the suspects, no witness had been presented.

Laying the news aside and facing reality, if you're fingered as a potential witness (even if you were) in a case involving Boko Haram, would you have exerted all courage to accept mounting the witness box in a court to testify against the dreaded Islamic sect while the bulk of the sect is out there roaming freely and unguarded? This is what informed my empathy for the prosecution counsel. Not that there aren't witnesses out there, but everyone's seeking cover. Even if na you!!!