The federal government on Tuesday commenced the mass trial of suspected terrorists at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marking a significant escalation in ongoing counterterrorism prosecutions.
The proceedings, which traditionally hold at Kainji in Niger State, were temporarily relocated to Abuja due to the court’s Easter vacation schedule.
The vacation, which began on April 7, is expected to end on April 13, with normal sittings resuming nationwide on April 14.
At least 20 suspects were arraigned before multiple judges, including Justice Emeka Nwite, Justice Binta Nyako, Justice Musa Liman and Justice Akpan Ekerete, as the court deployed 13 divisions to handle the surge in terrorism-related cases.
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The prosecution team, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), appeared before Justice Nyako, while defence counsel were headed by Aliyu Abubakar, Director-General of the Legal Aid Council.
Some of the defendants listed in the charge sheets include Hamat Modu, Isah Ali, Awal Bello, Shehu Bukar, Alhaji Kulle, Mohammed Abacha Hassan, Aminami Mallum, Tasiu Yakubu and Abdullahi Ali.
Security was significantly tightened around the court, with armed personnel blocking major access roads leading to the complex, while police helicopters conducted aerial surveillance over Abuja’s Central Business District.
